Abstract

Amund Maage, Jogeir Toppe, Mathilda Steiner-Asiedu, Ebenezer AsibeyBerko and Einar Lied

The present study was carried out in an iodine deficient area in Northern Ghana, and the purpose of the study was: (1) to undertake a food dietary survey on school children in an iodine deficient area, (2) measure the iodine content in the staple food of this area, (3) carry out an intervention study with a traditional food supplemented with marine fish as a natural iodine source. Sixty school children, in the village of Sekoti in the Upper-East region of Ghana, participated in the study. The dietary survey was performed as repeated 24 h recall, and staple foods were analysed for iodine by ICP-MS. A traditional diet fortified with 10% codfish-powder was given to the children every day for two weeks, and iodine status was measured before and after the intervention. The foodstuffs normally eaten by the children contained little iodine. However, beans prepared at a market nearby had surprisingly high values of iodine, explained by the addition of saltpetre, which contained very high amounts of iodine. About 60% of the children in the study area had goitre and the prevalence was highest among girls. Following the intervention period, the urinary iodine concentration was significantly increased and the TSH level in serum was significantly decreased, indicating an elevated iodine status. The children having goitre had the strongest tendency to elevate their iodine status.