Iodine Status in Pregnant Women Having Urinary Fluoride in Contaminated Areas: A Case Study of Phayao Province

Fluoride naturally occurs in the Earth's crust and is widely dispersed in groundwater. The high consumption of fluoride can inhibit iodine metabolism in the human body, especially in the thyroid gland. This study assessed iodine knowledge, iodine consumption behavior, urinary iodine (UI), thyroid stimulating hormone (serum TSH), and free triiodothyronine3 (serum FT3) and examined the connection between fluoride exposure and UI and thyroid function as serum concentrations of TSH and FT3 in pregnant women dwelling in an area of endemic fluorosis. This was a cross-sectional study. The population included 152 pregnant women within the 1(st) trimester of pregnancy, during which they were provided antenatal care (ANC) in seven public community hospitals in Phayao province, Thailand. The study consisted of two components. First, the study consisted of a questionnaire in which we evaluated the iodine knowledge and iodine consumptive behaviors in subjects. Second, biochemical data were investigated to evaluate thyroid function in the subjects. The gestational age of most subjects was 8–12 weeks. The study population has lived in fluoride-contaminated areas since birth (76.97%). The iodine and iodine consumption levels were moderate (50.00%). Their food iodine consumption was 3–4 days/week, and the top five consumption ranks were iodized salt, cooked pork, eggs, sticky rice, and iodine fish sauce. In terms of biochemical parameters, 63.16% of respondents had UI levels below 150.00 g/L, which is below the normal reference range of 150.00–249.00 g/L. 89.47% of the risk of hypothyroidism was associated with serum TSH levels below 2.50 g/L. In 38.16% of the samples, normal levels of serum FT3 (2.00–4.40 pg/L) were identified in the subjects. In addition, 61.84% of the samples had FT3 concentrations greater than 4.40 pg/L (high intake of iodine). The approved association between positive serum FT3 data and serum TSH was positive (r = 260 and p < 0.05). These studies imply that these elevated levels of TSH and FT3 place pregnant women in their first trimester at risk for hypothyroidism.