Abstract
Norway has been considered iodine replete for decades; however, recent studies indicate reemergence of inadequate iodine status in different population groups. We assessed iodine status in pregnant women based on urinary iodine concentration (UIC), urinary iodine excretion (UIE), and iodine intake from food and supplements. In 804 pregnant women, 24-h iodine intakes from iodine-rich foods and iodine-containing supplements were calculated. In 777 women, iodine concentration was measured in spot urine samples by inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In addition, 49 of the women collected a 24-h urine sample for assessment of UIE and iodine intake from food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Median UIC was 92 µg/L. Fifty-five percent had a calculated iodine intake below estimated average requirement (EAR) (160 µg/day). Iodine intake from food alone did not provide the amount of iodine required to meet maternal and fetal needs during pregnancy. In multiple regression models, hypothyroidism, supplemental iodine and maternal age were positively associated with UIC, while gestational age and smoking were negatively associated, explaining 11% of the variance. This study clearly shows that pregnant women in the Oslo area are mild to moderate iodine deficient and public health strategies are needed to improve and secure adequate iodine status.
Highlights
Iodine is an essential micronutrient for the synthesis of thyroid hormones that are critical for brain development and growth during fetal life and infancy
In a sub-sample, urinary iodine excretion (UIE) from 24-h urine samples was analyzed to compare the agreement between urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and UIE and calculated iodine intake
53% of the women were in the third trimester of pregnancy, 77% were born in Norway and 53%
Summary
Iodine is an essential micronutrient for the synthesis of thyroid hormones that are critical for brain development and growth during fetal life and infancy. Iodine deficiency during pregnancy may affect cognitive function of the offspring and lead to mental impairment [1,2,3,4]. Organization (WHO) considers iodine deficiency to be the single most important preventable cause of brain damage worldwide [5]. Universal salt iodization is the first-line strategy for the elimination of severe iodine deficiency; in Norway, no public strategy to ensure adequate iodine status currently exists. Because of successful programs of universal salt iodization in former severely iodine-deficient regions around the world, public health concern has shifted toward mild to moderate iodine deficiency, which remains prevalent in many regions, especially among pregnant women [6].
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