[Iodine nutrition in school children of four areas of Chile during the year 2001].

Background: In Chile, the recommendation for salt iodination was reduced from 100 to 40 ppm, after detecting high urinary iodine excretion in school age children.

Aim: To assess iodine nutrition in school age children after the modification of salt iodination.

Subjects And Methods: Iodine nutrition was studied in 3712 school age Chilean children of primary level in 4 areas (Calama, Santiago, Temuco and Punta Arenas) through palpation of thyroid gland, urinary iodine excretion and iodine concentration in salt for human consumption of the surveyed areas.