Influences of universal salt iodization on children's intelligence and psychomotor development

  Objective   To evaluate children's intelligent and psychomotor dev elopment after implementing universal salt iodization(USI)in areas with iodine deficiency.

  Methods   Intelligence quotient(IQ)was measured by combined raven's test, second edition(CRT-C2).Psychomotor development was examined by Jinyi Psychomotor Test Battery(JPB).Urine iodine and salt iodine were measured, respectively.Goiter was checked by palpation and ultrosound.

  Results   Compared with before implementing USI, after implementing USIhad shown:(1)significantly lower goiter rate in children; the concentration of urine iodine was increased from 58.7 μg/gcr to 250.1 μg/l; sig nificantly higher children's IQ(100.8±13.9 and 92.4±14.1);significantly higher Tscore(psychomotor function).Multinomial logistic regression between IQand society, economy, cultur al factor was carried, R²=0.22.

  Conclusion   After implementing USI, intelligent deficits associated with iodine deficiency have already been controlled, and children's brain dev elopmentheas already got full protection.The envir onment factors after born are limited to influence on the intelligence development.Iodine deficiency during pregnancy is just main factor theat decides the intelligence dev elopment in IDDregions.