XXXX Status of Vulnerable Populations in Henan Province of China 2013-2014 After the Implementation of the New Iodized Salt Standard.

@entity1 @entity1496
UNASSIGNED: The standard of salt @entity1496 content in China has been adjusted several times since implementation of the universal salt iodization (USI) in 1995. The new standard of iodized salt content was adjusted from 35      15 to 30      9  mg/kg in Henan province in 2012. We aimed to determine whether the vulnerable populations were @entity1496 sufficient after the adjustment of salt @entity1496 content and to provide a guideline for the adjustment of USI policy in China. Two cross-sectional surveys of @entity1496 status in vulnerable populations, including reproductive-age, pregnant and lactating @entity1 , @entity1 <2  years, and @entity1 aged 8-10  years, were conducted in Henan province in 2013 and 2014. In 2013, the median urinary @entity1496 concentration (mUIC) of reproductive-age @entity1 was 200.1   g/L and that of school @entity1 aged 8-10  years was 221.0   g/L. These mUICs were considered as "more than adequate." The mUICs of reproductive-age @entity1 and school @entity1 in 2014 showed a significant decline compared to the mUICs in 2013 (P  =  0.012 and P  =  0.001, respectively). The mUICs of the pregnant @entity1 were 204.2   g/L in 2013 and 202.5   g/L in 2014, which both met the requirement level recommended by WHO. In 2013, the mUIC of lactating @entity1 was 169.1   g/L and that of @entity1 <2  years was 203.2   g/L, which were significantly lower than that of 2014 (P  <  0.001 and P  <  0.001, respectively). The lactating @entity1 and @entity1 in 2013 and 2014 were both regarded as " @entity1496 adequate." @entity1496 status of the vulnerable populations is still adequate as a whole in Henan province after decreasing the salt @entity1496 content. However, the mUIC of school @entity1 aged 8-10 years is slightly above the adequate level. To reduce the risk of @entity1496 excess in the general population and prevent the possibility of @entity1496 deficiency of the vulnerable population, it is necessary to explore the appropriate level of iodized salt content.
