B. Solca et al., Iodine supply in different geographical areas of Switzerland: comparison between rural and urban populations in the Berne and the Ticino regions, EUR J CL N, 53(9), 1999, pp. 754-755
Objective: Ne studied the question of possible regional differences of iodi
ne intake in the population of rural and urban areas north and south of the
Alps.
Design: Transversal study.
Setting: Six different regions from northern (Canton Berne) and southern Sw
itzerland (Canton Ticino).
Subjects: For each region 30 individuals were studied.
Results: While significant differences of urinary iodine between some regio
ns were found (range from 79 mu g iodine/g creatinine in Chiasso to 130 mu
g iodine/g creatinine in the Maggia Valley), no significant differences bet
ween rural and urban populations of north and south of Switzerland were obs
erved. Mild iodine deficiency affected 35%, moderate iodine deficiency 12%
and seven iodine deficiency 0.6% of the total population investigated.
Conclusions: 49% of this population showed at least mild or moderate iodine
deficiency. The mean urinary iodine was just at the lower er recommended l
imits. Significant differences were found between individual regions (such
as Chiasso and the Valley of Maggia), but not generally between rural and u
rban areas in the north and south of the Alps.