(The FASEB Journal. 2008;22:893.1)
© 2008 FASEB
(The FASEB Journal. 2008;22:893.1.)
© 2008 FASEB
Iodine deficiency in mothers and children in a rural community of Wondogenet in southern Ethiopia
Alemtsehay Bogale1,
Barbara J. Stoecker1,
Yewelsew Abebe2,
Cherinet Abuye4,
Kassu Gurmu3 and
K. Michael Hambidge5
1 Nutritional Sciences, Oklahoma State Univ, Stillwater, OK
2 College of Agriculture
3 College of Health Sci, Hawassa Univ, Awassa, Ethiopia
4 Ethiopian Health & Nutr Res Inst, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
5 Univ Colorado Health Sci Ctr, Denver, CO
ABSTRACT
Iodine deficiency is common worldwide and is a major cause of preventable mental retardation. In our study demographic characteristics, food consumption patterns, anthropometric measurements, and iodine status were assessed for ninety-five women of child-bearing age and their five-year-old children. Mean (±SD) age of the mothers was 29 (6) y and family size was 7.0 (2.6). Mean maternal weight was 53.0 (8.9) kg and height was 159.4 (5.9) cm. Maternal BMI ranged from 15.3 to 29.0 with 14% of the mothers <18.5. Prevalence of goiter was 86.6% in the women. Anthropometric assessment of children revealed 29.7% to be stunted (<–2 Z-score) and 10% to be underweight (<–2 Z-score). Goiter prevalence in children was 31.3%. Urinary iodine for all participants was <49 µg/L indicating moderate to severe iodine deficiency. Bioavailability of iodine can be reduced by plant foods such as cabbage and kale, which are among the more frequently consumed foods in the study area that could have been a source of goitrogens. Furthermore, only 2% consumed iodized salt and none consumed fish. The high prevalence of goiter and the low urinary iodine demonstrate serious long and short-term iodine deficiency in the study area. Efficient and cost effective intervention methods to secure iodine availability are urgently needed. (Supported by NIH Grant R21 TW06729 (Fogarty International Center & the Office of Dietary Supplements) and Hawassa University.
