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Risk of zinc, iodine and other micronutrient deficiencies among school children in North East Thailand

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 60, pages 623–632 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction:

Micronutrient deficiencies during childhood can contribute to impairments in growth, immune competence, and mental and physical development, and the coexistence of several such deficiencies can adversely affect the efficacy of single micronutrient interventions.

Objective:

To assess the prevalence of zinc and iodine deficiency and their interrelationships with vitamin A deficiency and anemia and associations with socio-economic status, hemoglobin type, and anthropometry in a cross-sectional study.

Setting:

A total of 10 primary schools in North East Thailand.

Methods:

Non-fasting venipuncture blood samples and casual urine samples were collected from 567 children aged 6–13 years. Anthropometric measures and serum zinc, albumin, C-reactive protein and urinary iodine, are reported here and integrated with published data on vitamin A, anemia, and socio-economic status.

Results:

Of the children, 57% had low serum zinc and 83% had urinary iodine levels below the 100 μg/l cutoff. Suboptimal serum zinc and urinary iodine concentrations may result from low intakes of zinc and iodized salt. Significant risk factors for low serum zinc were serum retinol <1.05 μmol/l and being male. Those for urinary iodine <100 μg/l were height-for-age score>median and being female. For serum retinol <1.05 μmol/l, risk factors were low hemoglobin, low serum zinc, and <9 years, and for low hemoglobin indicative of anemia risk factors were <9 years, AE hemoglobinopathy, and serum retinol <1.05 μmol/l. Of the children, 60% were at risk of two or more coexisting micronutrient deficiencies, most commonly suboptimal urinary iodine and low serum zinc.

Conclusion:

The findings emphasize the need for multimicronutrient interventions in North East Thailand.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Micronutrient Initiative Fund, Ottawa, Canada and a University of Otago Research Grant. We thank all the school teachers, and the children and their families who participated in this survey, Jane Campbell for her excellent laboratory expertise in New Zealand and Arporn Sriphrapradang for the urinary iodine analysis in Thailand, and all the dedicated research assistants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand

    P Winichagoon, T Pongcharoen, S Gowachirapant, A Boonpraderm & E Wasantwisut

  2. Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, New Zealand

    R A Thurlow, M S Manger, K B Bailey & R S Gibson

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  1. R A Thurlow
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  2. P Winichagoon
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  3. T Pongcharoen
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  6. M S Manger
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  7. K B Bailey
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  9. R S Gibson
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Correspondence to R S Gibson.

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Guarantor: RS Gibson.

Contributors: RAT and RSG wrote the manuscript, with input from other authors. PW and RSG developed the study hypothesis and secured the funding and TP was the project field co-ordinator. RAT, TP, MSM, SG, AB, PW and RSG participated in the collection, analyses, and/or interpretation of the data. KBB carried out the biochemical analyses undertaken in New Zealand, EW supervised the analysis and interpretation of the serum retinol values in Thailand.

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Thurlow, R., Winichagoon, P., Pongcharoen, T. et al. Risk of zinc, iodine and other micronutrient deficiencies among school children in North East Thailand. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 623–632 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602361

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