Interrelationship between iodine nutritional status of lactating mothers and their absolutely breast-fed infants incoastaldistricts ofGangeticWest Bengal in India.

Abstract

Iodine intake of breast-fed infants was at the limit of above requirement, and they are possibly at the risk of excess iodine intake. In iodine deficient and excessive iodine intake mothers, their infants' serum FT4 and TSH are independent on their iodine nutritional status but dependent on thyroid hormone profile of their mothers but differently. What is Known: • A median urinary iodine of 100μg/L is used to define adequate iodine intake of lactating mothers and children <2years. However, adequate iodine intake in terms of urinary iodine of infants of age 1-3months is not known. What is New: • Iodine intake of absolutely breast-fed infants (1-3months) was more than adequate, though their mother's intake was adequate as breast milk contains more iodine than urine. The infants of iodine deficient and excessive iodine intake mothers, infants' hormonal profile is independent of their iodine nutritional status but dependent on their mothers thyroid hormone profile.