BACKGROUND: Iodine deficiency (ID) has become a concern not only among pregnant women, but in women of childbearing age as well. In fact, a recent report suggested that women with moderate to severe ID may experience a significantly longer time to conceive. This study aimed to investigate iodine status in Filipino women of childbearing age. METHODS: The iodine status of 6,194 Filipino women aged 15 to 45 years old was assessed through urinary iodine analysis. A casual spot urine sample was collected from women in households participating in the eighth National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute. The sample was analyzed using ammonium persulfate digestion followed by the Sandell-Kolthoff colorimetric reaction. A median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of less than 100 µg/L was used to define ID. RESULTS: The median UIC was 123 µg/L, indicative of adequate iodine nutrition; however, 21.5% of participants had a UIC below 50 µg/L. The median UIC of women who lived in urban areas (142 µg/L), belonged to the middle to richest class (>124 µg/L), had reached a college education (136 µg/L), and used iodized salt (15 ppm and above; 148 to 179 µg/L) reflected adequate iodine nutrition. ID was found to have been eliminated in the regions of Central Luzon, Eastern Visayas, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and the National Capital, while mild ID was identified in Western Visayas, Southern and Western Mindanao, and in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. CONCLUSION: Pockets of ID among women of childbearing age exist in the Philippines. Proper information through education and the use of adequately iodized salt are key measures for improving the iodine status of the studied population.
Academies and Institutes ; Ammonium Compounds ; Digestion ; Education ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Iodine* ; Islam ; Nutrition Surveys ; Philippines ; Pregnant Women

Background: Unhealthy diet, including high consumption of beverages with added sugars, has been attributed to the increasing trend of overweight and obesity. Objectives: This study explored the trend in beverage consumption and estimated the percent energy contribution of beverages to the total energy intake of selected population groups in the Philippines from 2008 to 2019. Methodology: The proportions, mean intakes, and percentile distributions of energy intake from beverages of selected population groups in 2008, 2013, and 2018-2019 used in this study were estimated using the National Nutrition Surveys by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute. Two analyses were done for the energy intake from beverages: (1) beverages excluding milk and dairy products, and (2) all beverages. The energy intake from sugars and syrups was also noted. Results: Results showed that the mean energy intake for beverages increased from 2008 to 2018-2019 for all age groups. The mean contribution of beverages to total energy intake, excluding milk and dairy products, was generally low but increased from 2008 to 2018-2019 with ranges from 2.3-3.7% and 2.8%-5.2%, respectively. However, high beverage consumers or those consuming ≥120 kcal per day, even excluding milk and dairy products, were observed in 6.3% of children 6 months to 5 years, 10.3% of children 6-12 years old, 16.1% of adolescents, 23.5% of adults, and 13.0% of pregnant women in 2018-2019. Conclusion Behavior change communication strategies are needed to prevent obesity and other lifestyle-related diseases, particularly in the population groups with a high consumption of caloric beverages.
Beverages ; Energy Intake ; Obesity