HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Accepted manuscript (PDF) All Versions of this Article: EJE-08-0309v1 159/4/439    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Morreale, G. Articles by Escobar del Rey, F. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Morreale, G. Articles by Escobar del Rey, F.

Inadequate iodine nutrition of pregnant women from Extremadura (Spain).

G Morreale, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas , CSIC, Madrid, 28029, Spain
H Farinas-Seijas, Extremadura University Hospital and Medical, CICAB. Clinical Research Center. Extremadura University Hospital and Medical, Badajoz, Spain
J Sánchez-Vega, Extremadura University Hospital and Medical, CICAB. Clinical Research Center. Extremadura University Hospital and Medical, Badajoz, Spain
F Escobar del Rey, CSIC-UAM; Arturo, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols", Madrid, Spain

Correspondence: Gabriela Morreale, Email: gmorreale{at}iib.uam.es

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the iodine nutrition of the pregnant women of the Spanish Autonomous Community Extremadura. There are approximately 10,000 births per year in Extremadura, which historically contains areas with endemic goiter (Las Hurdes).

Design: Population study in which a representative sample of pregnant women of the general population was analyzed, and another sample of pregnant women from traditionally goitrogenic areas. With the collaboration of selected Health Centers an additional sample of blood and urine was obtained within the primary health care pregnancy monitoring program; these samples were sent to a single central laboratory.

Methods: Biochemistry: determination of iodine and creatinine in urine, and serum concentrations of thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine (FT4), triiodothyronine (T3), thyrotropic hormone (TSH), thyroglobulin (Tg), and two antithyroid antibodies; each parameter was measured by means of a single specific radioimmunoassay.

Results: Changes between the first trimester and later stages of pregnancy of all biochemical variables studied corresponded with those described for other European areas with a comparable iodine nutrition. Using the urinary iodine concentration (UI) value as an indicator of iodine ingestion, it was found that in the first trimester of pregnancy 6 out of 10 women from Extremadura ingested less than the currently recommended amount (250 µg I/day), and approximately 3 out of 10 of these women ingested less than half of this amount.

Conclusions: It is imperative to implement in all Extremadura the generalized and controlled use of complements that contain 200-250 µg I/day throughout pregnancy and, if possible, before.