Journal article
Lebanese children are iodine deficient and urinary sodium and fluoride excretion are weak positive predictors of urinary iodine.
- Ghattas H Faculty of Health Sciences, Center for Research on Population and Health, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
- Francis S Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon.
- El Mallah C Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon.
- Shatila D Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon.
- Merhi K Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon.
- Hlais S Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
- Zimmermann M Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland.
- Obeid O Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon. omar.obeid@aub.edu.lb.
- 2015-12-10
Published in:
- European journal of nutrition. - 2017
Fluoride/creatinine ratio
Iodine/creatinine ratio
Lebanon
Sodium/creatinine ratio
Urinary fluoride
Urinary iodine excretion
Biomarkers
Child
Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Creatinine
Cross-Sectional Studies
Deficiency Diseases
Female
Fluorine
Food, Fortified
Guideline Adherence
Humans
Iodine
Lebanon
Legislation, Food
Male
Nutrition Policy
Nutritional Status
Severity of Illness Index
Socioeconomic Factors
Sodium
Sodium Chloride, Dietary
English
PURPOSE
To assess iodine and fluoride status among Lebanese children.
METHODS
A nationally representative cross-sectional study of 6- to 10-year-old schoolchildren was conducted using multistage cluster sampling. Spot urine samples were collected from 1403 children, and urinary iodine, fluoride, creatinine and sodium levels were measured. Salt samples from markets (n = 30) were tested for iodine concentration by titration.
RESULTS
Median urinary iodine concentration was 66.0 µg/l, indicating mild deficiency, and almost 75 % of Lebanese children had a urinary iodine concentration (UIC) <100 µg/l. UIC was higher among children from private schools and in areas of higher socioeconomic status. Most salt samples were fortified at levels far below the legislated requirement, and 56 % of samples contained less than 15 ppm iodine. Fluoride-to-creatinine ratio (F/Cr) was 0.250 (0.159-0.448) mg/g. There were weak positive correlations between UIC and urinary sodium (r 2 = 0.039, P value <0.001) and UIC and urinary fluoride (r 2 = 0.009, P value <0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Lebanese elementary school children are iodine deficient due to inadequately iodized salt. The weak correlation between UIC and urinary sodium suggests most dietary iodine does not come from iodized salt. The poor correlation between UIC and urinary fluoride suggests that fluoride intake is not affecting iodine metabolism. Efforts are needed in Lebanon to improve industry compliance with salt fortification through improved monitoring and enforcement of legislation.
To assess iodine and fluoride status among Lebanese children.
METHODS
A nationally representative cross-sectional study of 6- to 10-year-old schoolchildren was conducted using multistage cluster sampling. Spot urine samples were collected from 1403 children, and urinary iodine, fluoride, creatinine and sodium levels were measured. Salt samples from markets (n = 30) were tested for iodine concentration by titration.
RESULTS
Median urinary iodine concentration was 66.0 µg/l, indicating mild deficiency, and almost 75 % of Lebanese children had a urinary iodine concentration (UIC) <100 µg/l. UIC was higher among children from private schools and in areas of higher socioeconomic status. Most salt samples were fortified at levels far below the legislated requirement, and 56 % of samples contained less than 15 ppm iodine. Fluoride-to-creatinine ratio (F/Cr) was 0.250 (0.159-0.448) mg/g. There were weak positive correlations between UIC and urinary sodium (r 2 = 0.039, P value <0.001) and UIC and urinary fluoride (r 2 = 0.009, P value <0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Lebanese elementary school children are iodine deficient due to inadequately iodized salt. The weak correlation between UIC and urinary sodium suggests most dietary iodine does not come from iodized salt. The poor correlation between UIC and urinary fluoride suggests that fluoride intake is not affecting iodine metabolism. Efforts are needed in Lebanon to improve industry compliance with salt fortification through improved monitoring and enforcement of legislation.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1007/s00394-015-1120-x
- PMID 26650194
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/253681
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