Prevalence of iodine deficiency among pregnant and lactating women: Experience in Kolkata

OBJECTIVE: The cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the iodine status of pregnant and lactating mothers, using median urinary iodine excretion (UIE) as the measure of outcome, to document the prevalence of iodine deficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study assessed the UIE in the morning urine samples from 237 pregnant women, 73 lactating mothers and 59 healthy non-pregnant female controls. RESULTS: Out of 237 pregnant women, 88 (37%) exhibited insufficient iodine nutrition (UIE < 150 μg/l), out of 73 lactating mothers, 24 (33%) exhibited insufficient iodine nutrition (UIE < 100 μg/l) and only 3% female control subjects exhibited insufficient iodine nutrition (UIE < 100μg/l). Additionally, a number (32.3%) of babies born of iodine deficient mothers had respiratory distress at birth. CONCLUSION: It appears that the present salt iodination program is adequate for the general population but insufficient for the pregnant and lactating mothers. They need to be targeted with iodine supplements throughout pregnancy and lactation. Increased incidence of respiratory distress in the new born of iodine deficient mothers merits further study.