text: Australian children suffering from iodine deficiency
  
  February 23, 2006 
  
  Almost half of all Australian primary school children are mild to moderately iodine deficient, researchers say. A new study documenting iodine nutritional status in Australian schoolchildren has revealed many are not getting enough iodine - which can lead to mental and growth retardation. The report's authors say iodine deficiency is "the sleeper health issue in Australia", and potentially a very serious one. 
  The results of the Australian National Iodine Nutrition Study published in the Medical Journal of Australia this week, revealed that children in mainland Australia are borderline iodine deficient. The report has prompted calls for all edible salt to be iodised. They say adding the mineral to salt is the simplest and most effective method of preventing iodine deficiency disorders. 
  A cross-sectional survey of 1709 schoolchildren - aged 8–10 years, from 88 schools - was carried out in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland, between July 2003 and December 2004. Tasmania was excluded from the study - where an voluntary iodine fortification program using iodised salt in bread, is ongoing.
tokens: Australian children suffering from iodine deficiency February 23 , 2006 Almost half of all Australian primary school children are mild to moderately iodine deficient , researchers say . A new study documenting iodine nutritional status in Australian schoolchildren has revealed many are not getting enough iodine - which can lead to mental and growth retardation . The report 's authors say iodine deficiency is " the sleeper health issue in Australia " , and potentially a very serious one . The results of the Australian National Iodine Nutrition Study published in the Medical Journal of Australia this week , revealed that children in mainland Australia are borderline iodine deficient . The report has prompted calls for all edible salt to be iodised . They say adding the mineral to salt is the simplest and most effective method of preventing iodine deficiency disorders . A cross - sectional survey of 1709 schoolchildren - aged 8–10 years , from 88 schools - was carried out in New South Wales , Victoria , South Australia , Western Australia and Queensland , between July 2003 and December 2004 . Tasmania was excluded from the study - where an voluntary iodine fortification program using iodised salt in bread , is ongoing .
nps.text: Australian children
nps.id: np0
nps.text: iodine deficiency
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nps.text: Almost half
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nps.text: all Australian primary school children
nps.id: np3
nps.text: researchers
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nps.text: A new study
nps.id: np5
nps.text: iodine nutritional status
nps.id: np6
nps.text: Australian schoolchildren
nps.id: np7
nps.text: enough iodine
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nps.text: mental and growth retardation
nps.id: np9
nps.text: The report's authors
nps.id: np10
nps.text: iodine deficiency
nps.id: np11
nps.text: the sleeper health issue
nps.id: np12
nps.text: Australia
nps.id: np13
nps.text: The results
nps.id: np14
nps.text: the Australian National Iodine Nutrition Study
nps.id: np15
nps.text: the Medical Journal of Australia
nps.id: np16
nps.text: children
nps.id: np17
nps.text: mainland Australia
nps.id: np18
nps.text: The report
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nps.text: calls
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nps.text: all edible salt
nps.id: np21
nps.text: They
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nps.text: the mineral
nps.id: np23
nps.text: the simplest and most effective method
nps.id: np24
nps.text: iodine deficiency disorders
nps.id: np25
nps.text: A cross-sectional survey
nps.id: np26
nps.text: 88 schools
nps.id: np27
nps.text: New South Wales
nps.id: np28
nps.text: Victoria
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nps.text: South Australia
nps.id: np30
nps.text: Western Australia
nps.id: np31
nps.text: Queensland
nps.id: np32
nps.text: Tasmania
nps.id: np33
nps.text: the study
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nps.text: an voluntary iodine fortification program
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nps.text: iodised salt
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nps.text: bread
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nps.text: 1709 schoolchildren
nps.id: np38