The iodized salt programme in Bangalore, India provides adequate iodine intakes in pregnant women and more-than-adequate iodine intakes in their children.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the iodine status of pregnant women and their children who were sharing all meals in Bangalore, India.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study evaluating demographic characteristics, household salt iodine concentration and salt usage patterns, urinary iodine concentrations (UIC) in women and children, and maternal thyroid volume (ultrasound).


METHODS
Antenatal clinic of an urban tertiary-care hospital, which serves a low-income population.


METHODS
Healthy pregnant women in all trimesters, aged 18-35 years, who had healthy children aged 3-15 years.


RESULTS
Median (range) iodine concentrations of household powdered and crystal salt were 55·9 (17·2-65·9) ppm and 18·9 (2·2-68·2) ppm, respectively. The contribution of iodine-containing supplements and multi-micronutrient powders to iodine intake in the families was negligible. Adequately iodized salt, together with small amounts of iodine in local foods, were providing adequate iodine during pregnancy: (i) the overall median (range) UIC in women was 172 (5-1024) µg/l; (ii) the median UIC was >150 µg/l in all trimesters; and (iii) thyroid size was not significantly different across trimesters. At the same time, the median (range) UIC in children was 220 (10-782) µg/l, indicating more-than-adequate iodine intake at this age. Median UIC was significantly higher in children than in their mothers (P=0·008).


CONCLUSIONS
In this selected urban population of southern India, the iodized salt programme provides adequate iodine to women throughout pregnancy, at the expense of higher iodine intake in their children. Thus we suggest that the current cut-off for median UIC in children indicating more-than-adequate intake, recommended by the WHO/UNICEF/International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders may, need to be reconsidered.
1St John's Research Institute,St John's National Academy of Health Sciences,Bangalore,India.
Nidhi
N
Jaiswal
2Division of Human Nutrition,Wageningen University,Wageningen,The Netherlands.
Alida
A
Melse-Boonstra
3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,St Martha's Hospital,Bangalore,India.
Surjeet Kaur
SK
Sharma
1St John's Research Institute,St John's National Academy of Health Sciences,Bangalore,India.
Krishnamachari
K
Srinivasan
2Division of Human Nutrition,Wageningen University,Wageningen,The Netherlands.
Michael B
MB
Zimmermann
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000208:ethnology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000172:deficiency / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000208:ethnology; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000208:ethnology; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014504:Urban Health / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; C034024:iodized salt; D007455:Iodine
Children; India; Iodine; Iodized salt; Pregnant women; Urinary iodine concentration