title: Iodine intake and status of UK women of childbearing age recruited at the University of Surrey in the winter.
abstract: As intra-thyroidal iodine stores should be maximised before conception to facilitate the increased thyroid hormone production during pregnancy, women who are planning to become pregnant should ideally consume 150 μg iodine/d (US RDA). As few UK data exist for this population group, a cross-sectional study was carried out at the University of Surrey to assess the iodine intake and status of women of childbearing age. Total iodine excretion was measured from 24 h urine samples in fifty-seven women; iodine intake was estimated by assuming that 90 % of ingested iodine was excreted. The average iodine intake was also estimated from 48 h food diaries that the participants completed. The median urinary iodine concentration value (63·1 μg/l) indicated the group to be mildly iodine deficient by WHO criteria. By contrast, the median 24 h urinary iodine excretion value (149·8 μg/24 h) indicated a relatively low risk of iodine deficiency. The median estimated iodine intake, extrapolated from urinary excretion, was 167 μg/d, whereas it was lower, at 123 μg/d, when estimated from the 48 h food diaries. Iodine intake estimated from the food diaries and 24 h urinary iodine excretion were strongly correlated (r 0·75, P< 0·001). The intake of milk, eggs and dairy products was positively associated with iodine status. The iodine status of this UK cohort is probably a best-case scenario as the women were mostly nutrition students and were recruited in the winter when milk-iodine content is at its highest; further study in more representative cohorts of UK women is required. The present study highlights the need for revised cut-off values for iodine deficiency that are method- and age group-specific.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey,Guildford,SurreyGU2 7XH,UK.
authors.forename: Sarah C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Bath
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey,Guildford,SurreyGU2 7XH,UK.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sleeth
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey,Guildford,SurreyGU2 7XH,UK.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey,Guildford,SurreyGU2 7XH,UK.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey,Guildford,SurreyGU2 7XH,UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey,Guildford,SurreyGU2 7XH,UK.
authors.forename: Margaret P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rayman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003611:Dairy Products; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000652:urine; D015930:Diet Records; D004531:Eggs; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000652:urine; D012016:Reference Values; D012621:Seasons; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007455:Iodine