TY - JOUR
T1 - Iodine status of Indigenous and non-Indigenous young adults in the Top End, before and after mandatory fortification
AU - Singh, Gurmeet R.
AU - Davison, Belinda
AU - Ma, Gary Y.
AU - Eastman, Creswell J.
AU - Mackerras, Dorothy E. M.
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Objective: To assess the median urine iodine concentration (UIC) of young adults in the Top End of Northern Territory, before and after fortification of bread with iodised salt became mandatory. Design, setting: Analysis of cross-sectional data from two longitudinal studies, the Aboriginal Birth Cohort and the non-Indigenous Top End Cohort, pre- (Indigenous participants: 2006-2007; non-Indigenous participants: 2007-2009) and post-fortification (2013-15). Participants: Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian young adults (mean age: pre-fortification, 17.9 years (standard deviation [SD], 1.20 years); post-fortification, 24.9 years (SD, 1.34 years). Main outcome measure: Median UIC (spot urine samples analysed by a reference laboratory), by Indigenous status, remoteness of residence, and sex. Results: Among the 368 participants assessed both pre- and post-fortification, the median UIC increased from 58Â μg/L (interquartile range [IQR], 35-83Â μg/L) pre-fortification to 101Â μg/L (IQR, 66-163Â μg/L) post-fortification (P<0.001). Urban Indigenous (median IUC, 127Â μg/L; IQR, 94-203Â μg/L) and non-Indigenous adults (117Â μg/L; IQR, 65-160Â μg/L) were both iodine-replete post-fortification. The median UIC of remote Indigenous residents increased from 53Â μg/L (IQR, 28-75Â μg/L) to 94Â μg/L (IQR, 63-152Â μg/L; p<0.001); that is, still mildly iodine-deficient. The pre-fortification median UIC for 22 pregnant women was 48Â μg/L (IQR, 36-67Â μg/L), the post-fortification median UIC for 24 pregnant women 93Â μg/L (IQR, 62-171Â μg/L); both values were considerably lower than the recommended minimum of 150Â μg/L for pregnant women. Conclusions: The median UIC of young NT adults increased following mandatory fortification of bread with iodised salt. The median UIC of pregnant Indigenous women in remote locations, however, remains low, and targeted interventions are needed to ensure healthy fetal development.
AB - Objective: To assess the median urine iodine concentration (UIC) of young adults in the Top End of Northern Territory, before and after fortification of bread with iodised salt became mandatory. Design, setting: Analysis of cross-sectional data from two longitudinal studies, the Aboriginal Birth Cohort and the non-Indigenous Top End Cohort, pre- (Indigenous participants: 2006-2007; non-Indigenous participants: 2007-2009) and post-fortification (2013-15). Participants: Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian young adults (mean age: pre-fortification, 17.9 years (standard deviation [SD], 1.20 years); post-fortification, 24.9 years (SD, 1.34 years). Main outcome measure: Median UIC (spot urine samples analysed by a reference laboratory), by Indigenous status, remoteness of residence, and sex. Results: Among the 368 participants assessed both pre- and post-fortification, the median UIC increased from 58Â μg/L (interquartile range [IQR], 35-83Â μg/L) pre-fortification to 101Â μg/L (IQR, 66-163Â μg/L) post-fortification (P<0.001). Urban Indigenous (median IUC, 127Â μg/L; IQR, 94-203Â μg/L) and non-Indigenous adults (117Â μg/L; IQR, 65-160Â μg/L) were both iodine-replete post-fortification. The median UIC of remote Indigenous residents increased from 53Â μg/L (IQR, 28-75Â μg/L) to 94Â μg/L (IQR, 63-152Â μg/L; p<0.001); that is, still mildly iodine-deficient. The pre-fortification median UIC for 22 pregnant women was 48Â μg/L (IQR, 36-67Â μg/L), the post-fortification median UIC for 24 pregnant women 93Â μg/L (IQR, 62-171Â μg/L); both values were considerably lower than the recommended minimum of 150Â μg/L for pregnant women. Conclusions: The median UIC of young NT adults increased following mandatory fortification of bread with iodised salt. The median UIC of pregnant Indigenous women in remote locations, however, remains low, and targeted interventions are needed to ensure healthy fetal development.
KW - Australia_Northern
KW - iodine
KW - longitudinal method
UR - http://handle.westernsydney.edu.au:8081/1959.7/uws:51152
U2 - 10.5694/mja2.12031
DO - 10.5694/mja2.12031
M3 - Article
SN - 0025-729X
VL - 210
SP - 121
EP - 125
JO - Medical Journal of Australia
JF - Medical Journal of Australia
IS - 3
ER -