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Introduction: Tremendous efforts towards the elimination of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) during the last two decades have controlled these disorders in most of the provinces in Iran. This study was performed to evaluate the adequacy of iodine supplementation after 17 years of universal salt iodization in Yazd province. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 1200 schoolchildren (600 girls and 600 boys) aged 8 to10 year-olds, randomly selected from Yazd province were evaluated in 2007. Goiter prevalence, urinary iodine excretion and iodine content of household salts were measured and the obtained data were compared to those obtained in 1996 and 2001. Results: Total prevalence of goiter was 6.3% and no grade II goiter was seen. The median urinary iodine in 120 schoolchildren was 248 µg/L, with 5.8% (95% CI= 1.6-10) having urinary iodine excretion less than 50µg/L. Eighty six percent of households were using purified iodized salt, 48% of households had appropriate salt storage, and 5% of the household salts contained less than 15 µg iodide. Conclusion: Goiter prevalence has significantly decreased in the Yazd province, 17 years after universal salt iodization. The median urinary iodine of schoolchildren was adequate as that reported in 1996 and 2001, indicating a well established sustainable IDD program in Iran.

Keywords: Thyroid Gland, Iodine/deficiency, Iodized Salt

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