Assessment of the provision of iodine supply to pregnant and lactating women in Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

Aim. To determine the effectiveness of the implementation of the National Program for the Prevention of Iodine Deficiency Disorders in the Kyrgyz Republic for 20102014, the iodine sufficiency of the countrys population and the main risk groups pregnant and lactating women was assessed. Methods. 1815 samples of dietary salt have been examined for iodine content through an iodometric titration method at the level of production and sale and in public catering. Urinary iodine was assessed among 139 pregnant women and 151 lactating women through a cerium arsenit method at the laboratory of the Kazakh Academy of Nutrition, which is involved with a Global network on quality control EQUIP. Results. It was determined that 76.6% of salt was supplied by local enterprises and 23.4% of salt was of foreign origin. The iodine content was below 25 mg/kg in 55% of salt samples; in 2% of salt samples the iodine content was more than 55 mg/kg, and only in 43% of salt samples the iodine content corresponded to GOST (40 15 mg/kg). The average iodine content in salt samples collected from the households of pregnant and lactating women was 19.8 mg/kg, which is twice lower than the standard prescribed by GOST (40 mg/kg), and in 2/3 of salt samples iodine content was below the threshold level of 25 mg/kg. The median of urinary iodine among pregnant women was 103 mg/l, and among lactating women 91.6 mg/l, which is indicative of inadequate iodine provision. Conclusion. Current measures to improve the quality of iodized salt in Kyrgyzstan are insufficient.

Keywords

• iodized salt
• pregnant and lactating women
• median of urinary iodine
• kyrgyzstan