Trimester Specific Nutritional Status of Iodine among Euthyroid Pregnant Women

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the present nutritional status of iodine among euthyroid pregnant women by measurement of urinary iodine levels. Material and Methods: 381 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in the obstetrics and gynaecology department were included in study. Out of 381, 285 euthyroid women were selected as study population. Median urinary iodine levels (MUI) were compared among euthyroid pregnancy women according to trimester of gestation and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO Ab) level. Results: MUI level of euthyroid pregnant women was 119.2 μg/L (IQR=35.8-310.95) with 2.5th and percentile 97.5th being 5.55 μg/L and 1058.68 μg/L respectively. Out of 285 euthyroid women, 153(53.68%) were having MUI level below 150 μg/L. Trimester specific MUI levels decreased from 193.2 μg/L to 111.8 μg/L to 97.65 μg/L as gestational age increased from 1st to 2nd to 3rd trimesters respectively but this decrease with gestational age was not statistically significant. MUI levels of Anti-TPO antibody positive and negative euthyroid women were 153.8 μg/L and 118.4 μg/L respectively without being statistically significant (p=0.98). 138(54.12%) of Anti-TPO antibody negative and 15(50%) of Anti-TPO antibody positive were having MUI level below 150 μg/L. Conclusions: In the present study, we found that 53.68% of pregnant women were having MUI levels in iodine deficient range as per WHO guidelines.