Investigation into iodine deficiency of selected populations within cape coast metropolis and Agona west municipality in the central region of Ghana – analysis of iodised edible salts and urine.

Abstract

The iodine status of staff and pupils of Hillcrest Schools, undergraduates of UCC, 2016/2017 academic year and a household in Agona Swedru were determined using Titration Method, Sandell-Kolthoff Method and a Novel Method. Discriminant analysis results showed that the Novel Method correctly classified 77.4% of the original cases. The novel also had a percentage recovery of125% and a Horwitz Ratio of 0.12. Based on these, the study populations with the exception of household, were found to be iodine sufficient by the Novel Method.The iodine level in the Buffalo was 10 ppm; Ritebrand was non-detect. These levels were below the Ghana Standard Authority‟s limit of 25-50 ppm. The stability of the iodine in the salt was found to be influenced by magnesium content, moisture content and heat. Pb levels found in Annapurna, U2 and Ante Dede were respectively 51, 13.31 and 3.4 ppm. These levels were above the Codex limit of 2 ppm. The concentration of Fe in Mr. Chef, U2, Lele and Ante Dede were respectively 0.95, 0.49, 0.58 and 0.25 ppm. However, the concentrations of Zn were nondetect in all the samples. The Cd levels in Concord, Salnova and Cerebos iodised salt with 0.20, 0.05, and 0.01 ppm respectively, below the Codex limit of 0.5 ppm. Al levels were non-detect for all the salt samples. Microbial studies revealed Annapurna Salt contained microbes. Consumption of goitrogens, preference for uniodised salts, ignorance about the mandatory salt iodisation law, and iodine status test were behavioural patterns found to have the potential of causing iodine deficiency in the study populations