Iodine treatment in children with subclinical hypothyroidism due to chronic iodine deficiency decreases thyrotropin and C-peptide concentrations and improves the lipid profile.

Background: Chronic iodine deficiency (ID) increases thyrotropin (TSH) concentrations and produces a thyroid hormone pattern consistent with subclinical hypothyroidism (ScH). ScH may be associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors. Thus, the study aim was to determine if iodine treatment of children with elevated TSH concentrations due to ID would affect their lipid profile, insulin (C-peptide) levels, and/or subclinical inflammation.

Treatment of iodine deficiency in school-age children increases insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF binding protein-3 concentrations and improves somatic growth.

Context: Iodine deficiency in utero impairs fetal growth, but the relationship between iodine deficiency and postnatal growth is less clear.

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine whether iodine repletion improves somatic growth in iodine-deficient children and investigate the role of IGF-I and IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 in this effect.

Design, Participants, And Interventions: Three prospective, double-blind intervention studies were done: 1) in a 10-month study, severely iodine-deficient, 7- to 10-yr-old Moroccan children (n = 71) were provided iodized salt and compared with children not using iodized salt; 2) in a 6-month study, moderately iodine-deficient, 10- to 12-yr-old Albanian children (n = 310) were given 400 mg iodine as oral iodized oil or placebo; 3) in a 6-month study, mildly iodine-deficient 5- to 14-yr-old South African children (n = 188) were given two doses of 200 mg iodine as oral iodized oil or placebo.

Serum transferrin receptor and zinc protoporphyrin as indicators of iron status in African children.

Background: Although transferrin receptor (TfR) and zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) are often used to define iron status in school-age children in developing countries, the diagnostic cutoffs for this age group are uncertain.

Objective: The objective was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of TfR and ZnPP in predicting iron deficiency in black and white children in Africa.

Design: Hemoglobin, C-reactive protein (CRP), serum ferritin (SF), TfR, and ZnPP were measured in children in Côte d'Ivoire and Morocco.

Rapid relapse of thyroid dysfunction and goiter in school-age children after discontinuation of salt iodization.

Background: In programs to control iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), sustainability is a major concern. IDD has recently recurred in countries where salt iodization programs have lapsed.

Objective: The objective of the study was to describe the evolution of thyroid dysfunction after the discontinuation of salt iodization in a cohort of children in an area of severe endemic goiter.

Development of a dried whole-blood spot thyroglobulin assay and its evaluation as an indicator of thyroid status in goitrous children receiving iodized salt.

Background: Serum thyroglobulin appears to be a sensitive marker of thyroid dysfunction in endemic goiter. However, its value as an indicator of thyroid status in children after the introduction of iodized salt has not been tested.

Objective: The objective was to optimize and validate a thyroglobulin assay on dried whole blood spots and to evaluate thyroglobulin as an indicator of thyroid response to iodized salt.

Prevalence of the main cardiovascular risk factors in Morocco: results of a National Survey, 2000.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the main cardiovascular risk factors in Morocco and their distribution according to age, sex and residential area.

Methods: The study was conducted during the year 2000 on a Moroccan representative sample aged 20 years and over, considering the population distribution between urban and rural areas. The crude results were weighted according to the Moroccan population distribution by age and sex.

Introduction of iodized salt to severely iodine-deficient children does not provoke thyroid autoimmunity: a one-year prospective trial in northern Morocco.

To determine if introduction of iodized salt induces thyroid autoimmunity in goitrous children, we conducted a prospective trial in iodine-deficient Moroccan schoolchildren (n = 323). Local salt was iodized at 25 microg iodine per gram of salt and distributed to households. Before introduction of iodized salt and at 10, 20, 40, and 52 weeks, we measured antithyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab), antithyroglobulin antibodies (Tg-Ab), urinary iodine (UI), and thyroid hormones, and examined the thyroid using ultrasound.

Dual fortification of salt with iodine and microencapsulated iron: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in Moroccan schoolchildren.

Background: In many developing countries, children are at high risk of both goiter and iron deficiency anemia.

Objective: In a series of studies in northern Morocco, we developed and tested a dual-fortified salt (DFS) containing iodine and microencapsulated iron.

Design: To establish the DFS fortification concentration, we measured salt intake by 3-d weighed food records and estimated iron bioavailability from the local diet by using published algorithms.