Which laboratory measurement is recommended by WHO as the most practical indicator of iodine status in a population?

• A Serum thyroglobulin level
• B Serum thyroid stimulating hormone level
• C Radioactive iodine uptake at 24 hours
• D Median urinary iodine concentration ✓

Explanation

About 90 percent of absorbed dietary iodine is ultimately excreted in urine, so median urinary iodine concentration reflects recent iodine intake and is inexpensive to survey in populations. Serum TSH rises only after significant thyroidal compromise, making it insensitive for mild deficiency, and neonatal TSH screening is used mainly for monitoring programmes rather than surveys. Radioactive iodine uptake varies with many factors other than intake.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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