Maternal iodine status and neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone concentration: a community survey in Songkhla, southern Thailand.
OBJECTIVE
To determine iodine intake and urinary iodine excretion (UIE) in a group of pregnant Thai women and the concentration of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in their neonates.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Three districts of Songkhla, southern Thailand.


METHODS
Two hundred and thirty-six pregnant women.


RESULTS
A quarter of the participants lacked knowledge of iodine and the prevention of iodine deficiency, although 70 % used iodized salt. Those who did not use iodized salt stated that they had no knowledge about iodine (57 %) and no iodized salt was sold in their village (36 %). The median iodine intake in the three districts was 205-240 microg/d, with 53-74 % of pregnant women having iodine intake <250 microg/d. The median UIE in the three districts was 51-106 microg/l, with 24-35 % having UIE < 50 microg/l. The mean neonatal TSH was 2.40 (sd 1.56) mU/l, with 8.9 % of neonates having TSH > 5 mU/l.


CONCLUSIONS
The studied women and their fetuses were at risk of mild iodine deficiency. About a quarter of the participants lacked knowledge of the importance of iodine. Education regarding the importance of iodine supplements and the promotion of iodized salt should be added to national health-care policies in order to prevent iodine-deficiency disorders, diseases that are subclinical but have long-term sequelae.
Jaruratanasirikul
Somchit
S
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand. somchit.j@psu.ac.th
Sangsupawanich
Pasuree
P
Koranantakul
Ounjai
O
Chanvitan
Prasin
P
Ruaengrairatanaroj
Prasit
P
Sriplung
Hutcha
H
Patanasin
Thanomjit
T
Sukmee
Siriporn
S
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency / Q000652:urine
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D014131:Trace Elements; C034024:iodized salt; D013972:Thyrotropin; D007455:Iodine