NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND URINARY IODINE LEVELS OF SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN: IS THERE A CORRELATION?

Objective: Impaired physical growth is one of the prolonged effects of deficient iodine, a micronutrient. Thus, this study aimed to determine the relationship between the urinary iodine levels and anthropometric indices in a population of schoolchildren in Ilorin, North-Central Nigeria. Material and Method: This was a cross-sectional analytical study carried out among primary schoolchildren in Ilorin, North-Central Nigeria. We recruited a total of 492 children aged 6-12 years through a multi-staged systematic sampling technique. Anthropometry was determined using standard methods. We collected urine samples from the pupils and analysed them for iodine in the laboratory using the Sandell-Kolthoff method. Results: Of the 492 children recruited, 13 (3.2%) were under weight, 23 (4.7%) were stunted, 21 (4.3%) had thinness and obesity was found in 7 (1.5%). The mean (SD) weight for age Z score (WAZ) was -0.216 (1.089), and height for age Z score (HAZ) was -0.073 (1.286). The mean weight for height z score (WHZ) and weight for age Z score (BAZ) were 1.036 (0.002) and -0.428 (0.976) respectively. A total of 26.5% of the schoolchildren had mild iodine deficiency, 0.4% had excess urinary iodine levels and no child had moderate or severe iodine deficiency. There was no relationship between the urinary iodine levels and anthropometric indices (WAZ p=0.665, HAZ p= 0.978, WHZ p=0.375, and BAZ p=0.928). Conclusion: This study showed that there is no relationship between nutritional indices and urinary iodine levels. Hence, nutritional status of schoolchildren may not reflect their iodine level.