Assessing adequacy of iodine intake among children from 6 months to 15 years of age from hilly terrains of North India

Abstract

Background: Routine outcome-based monitoring is required to assess the status of consumption of iodized salt as USI strategy. Objective: To assess the extent of recent iodine intake among children from 6 to 15 years of age in the hilly terrain of northern states of India. Methods: A school-based cross-sectional observational study among 227 children attending school was done for assessment of socio-demographic, dietary, salt consumption and urinary iodine concentration (UIC). Results: Mean age of children was about 6 years and 87.7% were consuming salt of >30 and none with 5 grams/day. Conclusion: Recent iodine intake among children observed to be inadequate and effect of cruciferous food items on UIC needs to be studied despite high coverage of iodized salt among children.