title: [Prevalence of iodine deficiency in pregnant women in the health area of Palencia (Spain)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Iodine deficiency in pregnant women may result in substantial and irreversible impairment in fetal brain development, even from the first few weeks of pregnancy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the nutritional iodine status of pregnant women in our health area and its relationship with dietary factors and thyroid function and to suggest treatment guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study in 164 pregnant women in early pregnancy was carried out. Data on urinary iodine concentrations were gathered from 24-hour urine samples. Data on anthropometric parameters and thyroid function were included. Information on dietary habits in the previous week was collected using a nutritional questionnaire. All data were obtained before iodine supplements were administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median urinary iodine concentration was 92 [p25-p75 range, 71-139] microg/l. Seventy-eight percent of urinary iodine values were under 150 microg/l. Women who took iodized salt had higher levels of urinary iodine concentrations than women without iodized salt intake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seventy-eight percent of pregnant women in our health area were iodine deficient. Iodized salt intake is related to iodine sufficiency and to increased urinary iodine concentrations. Measures to increase intake of iodized salt among the population should be implemented. Iodized salt supplements should be systematically prescribed in women from the beginning of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Complejo Asistencial de Palencia, Palencia, España. amaldonado@hrcr.sacyl.es
authors.forename: Alfonso Maldonado
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Eduardo Guerrero
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: María Angeles Rodríguez
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Jesús María Andrés
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Llano
authors.forename: Cristóbal Frontela
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Manuela Moreira
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de la Lama de León
authors.forename: Julio Díaz
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de la Torre Santos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000172:deficiency*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007455:Iodine