Endocrine Abstracts

The recommended nutrient intake (RNI) for iodine during pregnancy has been re-evaluated in 2005 by an international expert committee under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO). The consensus reached was that the RNI for iodine during pregnancy should range between 200 and 300 μ/d with an average of 250 μ/d.

To asses the adequacy of the iodine intake during pregnancy in a population, urinary iodine concentration (UIC) should be measured. UIC should ideally range between 150 and 250 μ/l.

Objectives: To identify the current state of iodine nutrition in pregnant women using UIC and to estimate the level of information about the importance of iodine requirements in pregnancy.

Patients and methods: We studied a cohort of 185 pregnant women, average age 31.7±5.0 years, gestational age 26.9±5.6 weeks, we asked them about the use of de iodized salt and supplements in the form of potassium iodine or multivitamin tablets specifically designed for pregnancy and too about their knowledgments related to the importance of iodine intake. We considered UIC adequate 150–250 μ/l, mild deficiency 160–100, moderate 100–50, severe <50, more than adequate 250–500 and excessive >500 μ/l.

Results: The median UIC was 143 μ/l. In 53.2% was <150 μ/l (28.5% mild, 23.1% moderate and 1.6% severe deficiency), 25.8% had an adequate UIC, 16.1% more than adequate and 4.8% excessive. About 74.2% ingested tablets, 56.5% used iodized salt. Only 21.5% had received information by health personal and 11.3% in published information. About 50% of pregnant women with UIC<150 μ/d didn’t consume iodized salt (P<0.05), 35% didn’t ingested oral supplements (P<0.05) and 87.6% hadn’t received information (P<0.05).

Conclusions: (1) Pregnant women studied had mild deficient UIC. (2) The proportion of pregnants that declare use oral supplements or idoized salt is elevate but in near 50% the state of iodine nutrition is insufficient. (3) The information about the importance of iodine nutrition during pregnancy is scarce.