Current state of iodine nutrition in Filipino school-aged children.

OBJECTIVES: Globally, although progress in eliminating iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) has been reported, IDD is still considered to be a global health problem. As school-aged children are the most accessible population group, their urinary iodine (UI) concentration data are accepted and used as an indicator of IDD for the general population. The aim of this study was to reassess the national, regional, and provincial estimates of UI as a measure of IDD among Filipino school-aged children.

METHODS: Casual urine samples were collected from 22 588 children, 6 to 12 y of age, from participating households in the eighth National Nutrition Survey. UI was determined based on the catalytic action of iodine in the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction and IDD was evaluated using criteria from the World Health Organization, United Nations Children's Fund, International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders criteria.

RESULTS: The median UI level among Filipino school-aged children was 168 μg/L, corresponding to optimal iodine nutrition; whereas 23.2% had UI reflective of excessive iodine intake. Cjildren in the Zamboanga Peninsula Region had median UI level of 68 μg/L and 41.1% of participants had UI values <50 μg/L, which is indicative of mild iodine deficiency. Children from Guimaras and Zamboanga del Norte, or 2.4% of the provinces, had moderate iodine deficiency.

CONCLUSION: Although the median UI level of school-age children was optimal, there are pockets of inadequacy and excessive intake that need special concern for targeted intervention.