Stabilizing 30ppm Iodine in Iodized Salt: The Effect on Iodine Status and Thyroid Function in Children

Background: Salt iodization considers an effective way of ensuring iodine sufficiency, but a wide variation range of household salt iodine levels existed. Research in iodized salt intervention on preschool-age children had not been found. Objective: Analyse the effect of stabilizing 30 ppm household iodized salt for six months on iodine nutrition status and thyroid function. Method: This was a pre post-test experiment study, with 76 preschool-age children in a replete iodine area in Purworejo Regency. Iodized salt at 30ppm was given for six months. Thyroid function (TSH and FT4) were assessed at 0 and 6 months. Iodine status (UIE) were assessed at 0, 3, and 6 months. ANOVA RM mixed methods were used to interpret the result. Results: Before the study, 51.9% of households had an inadequate level of iodized salt. There were a significant increase of TSH (t=-3.184; p