Iodized salt is sufficient to obtain an adequate nutritional status of iodine in pregnant woman

González Martínez Silvia; Isabel Escudero Gomis Ana; Elias Delgado; Luis Menendez Torre Edelmiro

doi:10.1530/endoabs.73.AEP685

Introduction

Iodine is an essential micronutrient used by the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones. Iodine deficiency during pregnancy is related to impaired neurocognitive development of fetus and neonate. The WHO recommends iodization of salt as main measure to prevent iodine deficiency disorders. In pregnant population other international organizations recommend the use of iodine supplements to guarantee adequate nutritional status of iodine (median urinary iodine concentration [UIC] ≥ 150 µg/l). The objectives of the study are to know nutritional status of iodine in our pregnant women and its relationship with iodine intake.

Materials and methods

Descriptive and analytical observational study carried out in 2017 in 318 women in the first trimester of pregnancy at Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Spain. Pregnant women with diagnosis of thyroid disease before pregnancy or multiple gestations were excluded. Information on dietary habits was collected by midwives in the primary care centers. The questionnarie contained items related to consumption of iodized salt, dairy products and iodine supplements. UIC was determinated in a first morning urine sample. The statistical analysis was performed using the R program (R Development Core Team), version 3.6.0, applying the Chi-square and Student’s T statistical tests.

Results

Mean age of pregnant women was 34.10 ± 5.45 years, with a mean gestation age of 7.19 ± 2 weeks.

Results of the iodine intake questionnaire were as follows

– Consumption of iodized salt: 51.10%

– Consumption of dairy products (≥ 2 servings day): 48.9%

– Use of iodine supplement: 87.08%

Median UIC (Q1–Q3) was 171.5 µg/l (116–265 µg/l). 60.4% of pregnant women had ioduria greater ≥150 µg/l.


	UIC ≥150 μg/l	UIC < 150 μg/l	P	Median UIC (Q1–Q3) μg/l	P
Iodized salt
No	55 (48.7%)	58 (51.33%)	0.001	147 (102–206)	0.016
Yes	97 (69.3%)	43 (30.7%)	0.001	191.5 (131.5–285)	0.016
Dairy products
<2 servings/day	78 (56.1%)	61 (43.9%)	0.269	168 (96–258)	0.48
≥ 2 servings/day	84 (62.7%)	50 (37.3%)	0.269	172 (122.25–255.75)	0.48
Iodine supplement
No	21 (53.9%)	18 (46.1%)	0.455	158.5 (113–199.5)	0.027
Yes	157 (60.1%)	104 (39.9%)	0.455	172.5 (116–285.75)	0.027

Conclusions

Our pregnant population presents an adequate nutritional status of iodine. In our sample, the intake of iodized salt was sufficient to obtain an adequate UIC, being the main measure to achieve it. The use of iodine supplements increases UIC but has no protective effect against UIC <150 µg/l. We agree with the WHO recommendation on the use of iodized salt in pregnant women.

Endocrine Abstracts

AEP685