Prevention of iodine deficiency in the nutrition of the population of Turkmenistan through general table salt iodination: results of the nationwide representative study

Abstract

A nationwide representative study of progress in preventing iodine deficiency in the nutrition of the population of Turkmenistan through general salt iodination was made in 879 children in the all regions of the country in January-February 2004. The findings suggest that the population in the whole country is adequately provided with iodine, which has been achieved due to the fact that qualitative iodinated salt is available in 100% of the country's households. The median urinary iodine concentration (170 ng/l) for the whole population of Turkmenistan is in the range (100-300 fig/I) recommended by the WHO, UNICEF, and ICIDC; the proportion of samples with an iodine concentration of less than 100 and SO /ig/l has proved to be much less than the recommended one. According to the results of the study, in Turkmenistan was declared a country eliminating iodine deficiency in the population's nutrition.