The Evaluation of Iodine Levels in Urine and Nutrition in Pregnant Women According to Trimesters

Abstract

Objective: Iodine deficiency is a major health problem globally that seriously affects pregnant women and children. The aim of this study was to evaluate urinary iodine levels in pregnant women living in the province of Konya according to trimester.
 Methods: A total of 395 pregnant women aged between 15-49, with gestational periods of 1 to 40 weeks were included in the study. A questionnaire prepared by the researchers, with a total of 54 questions, was used to determine the socio-demographic, obstetric, and iodized salt nutritional characteristics of the participants.
 Results: The overall median urinary iodine levels were 91.90 µg/L. The mean urinary iodine levels of the pregnant women in the first, second, and third trimesters were 104.00 µg/L in the first trimester, 93.00 µg/L in the second trimester, and 71.00 µg/L in the third trimester. The urinary iodine level was lower in the third trimester and this difference was significant (p