title: Randomised trial of iodine intake and thyroid status in preterm infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low levels of circulating thyroid hormones have been associated with poorer general and neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm babies and it has been speculated that the association is causal. Low levels of circulating thyroid hormone have been reported after inadequate intake of iodine in preterm infants being fed milk formula.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether increased iodine intake from supplemented preterm formula would improve thyroid hormone levels in preterm babies (this study) and hence improve neurodevelopmental status (planned subsequent study).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 121 preterm infants were entered into a randomised controlled trial of standard (68 microg/l) versus increased (272 microg/l) iodine in preterm formula.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two groups were comparable at recruitment. No evidence of an effect of the intervention on thyroid hormone levels was seen up to 41 weeks after conception.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Calls for increased iodine content of preterm infant formulas are not justified by this study.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Unit, Liverpool Women's Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rogahn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Squire
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Amegavie
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D007455:Iodine