Evaluation of Iodine Content in Table Salt Consumed in Democratic Republic of Congo

Background DR Congo has adopted universal salt iodization to reduce disorders due to iodine deficiency. Since 1994, only iodized salt can be imported, but there is currently no routine monitoring of the iodine content of distributed salt. It is therefore unclear if iodine deficiency remains a health...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Food and nutrition bulletin Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 217 - 223
Main Authors:	Kitwa, Kayumba E., Habimana, Laurence, Lumbu, Simbi J. B., Donnen, Philippe, Twite, Kabange E., Mpoyo, Kasongo E., De Nayer, Philippe, Kalenga, Muenze K., Robert, Annie
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-09-2012
Subjects:	Cross-Sectional Studies Democratic Republic of the Congo Dietary Supplements Female Food Packaging - instrumentation Humans Iodine - administration & dosage Iodine - analysis Iodine - deficiency Nutritional Requirements Pregnancy Rural Population Sodium Chloride, Dietary - analysis Urban Population Democratic Republic of the Congo iodine deficiency iodized salt Democratic Republic of Congo Lubumbashi
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Summary:	Background DR Congo has adopted universal salt iodization to reduce disorders due to iodine deficiency. Since 1994, only iodized salt can be imported, but there is currently no routine monitoring of the iodine content of distributed salt. It is therefore unclear if iodine deficiency remains a health problem, particularly in pregnant women. Objective To evaluate the iodine content of salt in households of pregnant women in Lubumbashi. Methods We conducted a survey of the iodine content of salt consumed by 375 women presenting at prenatal consultations in three socially different areas of Lubumbashi: urban, semiurban, and rural. The women were questioned about where they purchased salt, how it was packaged, and how they stored the salt, and each woman provided a sample of salt for determination of its iodine content by the iodometric method. Results Most women (84.3%) bought salt in the public markets, mainly in bulk (93.6%); 80.0% stored salt in plastic boxes. The median iodine content was 27.5 ppm (IQR, 16.0–38.1) in urban areas, 19.0 ppm (IQR, 7.4–31.7) in semiurban areas, and 20.1 ppm (IQR, 5.3–31.7) in rural areas. The iodine content was less than 15 ppm (minimum threshold) in 36.3% of samples, including 13.9% without any detectable iodine. The iodine content was above 40 ppm (maximum limit) in 18.9% of samples. Only 44.8% of salt samples had adequate iodine content. Conclusions The population of Lubumbashi remains at risk for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. An effective and regular system for the control of iodine content in distributed salt is needed in DR Congo.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	1564-8265 0379-5721 1564-8265
DOI:	10.1177/156482651203300307