title: Status of iodine deficiency among pregnant mothers in Himachal Pradesh, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Iodine is an essential micronutrient needed for the production of thyroid hormones. Pregnant mothers who are deficient in iodine provide less iodine to the fetal thyroid. This results in low production of thyroid hormones by the fetal thyroid, thereby leading to compromised mental and physical development of the fetus. The current study aimed to assess the current status of iodine nutrition among pregnant mothers in Himachal Pradesh, India, a known endemic region for iodine deficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three districts, namely Kangra, Kullu and Solan, were selected.
  
  
  METHODS
  In each district, thirty clusters (villages) were identified by utilizing the population-proportional-to-size cluster sampling methodology. In each cluster, seventeen pregnant mothers attending the antenatal clinics were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1711 pregnant mothers (647 from Kangra, 551 from Kullu and 513 from Solan) were studied. Clinical examination of the thyroid of each pregnant mother was conducted. Spot urine samples were collected from ten pregnant mothers in each cluster. Similarly, salt samples were collected from eleven pregnant mothers in each cluster.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total goitre rate was 42·2 % (Kangra), 42·0 % (Kullu) and 19·9 % (Solan). The median urinary iodine concentration was 200 μg/l (Kangra), 149 μg/l (Kullu) and 130 μg/l (Solan). The percentage of pregnant mothers consuming adequately iodized salt (iodine content of 15 ppm and more) was found to be 68·3 % (Kangra), 60·3 % (Kullu) and 48·5 % (Solan).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pregnant mothers in Kullu and Solan districts had iodine deficiency as indicated by a median urinary iodine concentration less than 150 μg/l.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Human Nutrition,All India Institute of Medical Sciences,Ansari Nagar,New Delhi - 110029,India.
authors.forename: Umesh
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kapil
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition,All India Institute of Medical Sciences,New Delhi,India.
authors.forename: Shyam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Human Nutrition,All India Institute of Medical Sciences,Ansari Nagar,New Delhi - 110029,India.
authors.forename: Neha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sareen
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Human Nutrition,All India Institute of Medical Sciences,Ansari Nagar,New Delhi - 110029,India.
authors.forename: Ajeet Singh
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bhadoria
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Human Nutrition,All India Institute of Medical Sciences,Ansari Nagar,New Delhi - 110029,India.
authors.forename: Preetika
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khenduja
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Human Nutrition,All India Institute of Medical Sciences,Ansari Nagar,New Delhi - 110029,India.
authors.forename: Sukirty
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nigam
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Human Nutrition,All India Institute of Medical Sciences,Ansari Nagar,New Delhi - 110029,India.
authors.forename: Jyoti
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vijay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000652:urine; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006043:Goiter, Endemic / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007455:Iodine / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000652:urine; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000652:urine; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; C034024:iodized salt; D007455:Iodine