OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of iodised salt for preventing iodine deficiency disorders.

METHODCochrane systematic review.

RESULTSFour randomised controlled trials were included. Subgroup analysis performed lay on different ages, interventions and controls. Prevalence of goitre was reduced close to 5% when using distributed iodised salt and market iodised salt plus iodine oil capsule which showed more effective than using market iodised salt alone (OR = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.02 - 0.17). The latter's prevalence of goitre was 14.7%. When using market iodised salt, the iodine urea excretion level showed different results in children group in different countries. Basically, the market iodised salt for preventing iodine deficiency of pregnancy women were effective, but a part of them did not achieve to the ideal status of iodine nutrition.

CONCLUSIONSThe needs to be strictly controlled quality of iodised salt and market iodised salt plus iodised oil capsule thus can effectively reduce the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders. However there was not enough evidence to support that market iodised salt can effectively eliminate these disorders, particularly in children. More eligibility trials are needed for providing more evidences.