Chiara Tuccilli1, Enke Baldini1, Elia Truppa2, Bruno D'Auria2, Domenico De Quattro2, Giovanni Cacciola3, Tommaso Aceti4, Giovanni Cirillo4, Antonio Faiola4, Patrizia Indigeno5, Lorella D'Aliesio5, Fiorella Gazzellone5, Marco Bononi6, Eleonora D'Armiento7, Giovanni Carbotta1, Daniele Pironi1, Antonio Catania1, Salvatore Sorrenti1, Salvatore Ulisse8. 1. Department of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. 2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ASL Frosinone, Santa Scolastica Hospital, Cassino, Italy. 3. UOC of Radiology, Department of Diagnostic, ASL Frosinone, Santa Scolastica Hospital, Cassino, Italy. 4. Department of Clinical Pathology, ASL Frosinone, Santa Scolastica Hospital, Cassino, Italy. 5. Nursing School of Cassino, Sapienza University of Rome and University of Cassino and South Lazio, Cassino, Italy. 6. Nursing School of Cassino, Sapienza University of Rome and University of Cassino and South Lazio, Cassino, Italy; Department of Surgery Pietro Valdoni, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 7. Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. 8. Department of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Electronic address: Salvatore.ulisse@uniroma1.it.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, and the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders recommend a median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in pregnant women between 150 µg/L and 249 µg/L. In the present study, we evaluated whether in the urban area of Cassino (central Italy), after a national salt iodination program (30 mg/kg) was introduced in 2005, the increased demand of iodine during pregnancy was satisfied. METHODS: Between January 2016 and April 2017, 99 pregnant women were enrolled to evaluate UIC in spot urine samples, serum level of thyrotropin, free thyroxine, antithyroglobulin and antithyroperoxidase autoantibodies, and thyroid volume by ultrasonography. Eighty clinically healthy non-pregnant women were evaluated as controls. RESULTS: The median UIC was of 97.7 µg/L and 110.3 µg/L, respectively, in control and pregnant women. A significant increase (P < 0.001) of median thyroid volume was found in pregnant women, relative to control women, being, respectively, 10.4 mL (range 3.68-19.49 mL) and 7.16 mL (range 2.57-14.00 mL). A positive correlation was found between thyroid volume and anthropometric parameters, and an inverse correlation was identified between free thyroxine serum levels and anthropometric parameters. CONCLUSIONS: This observational study found that the majority of pregnant women and their fetuses appear not to be protected from the detrimental consequences of iodine deficiency. Therefore, the identification of new strategies to increase the knowledge and awareness of the general population regarding the beneficial effects of iodine supplementation during pregnancy is highly required.
OBJECTIVE: The World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, and the International Council for the Control of IodineDeficiency Disorders recommend a median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in pregnant women between 150 µg/L and 249 µg/L. In the present study, we evaluated whether in the urban area of Cassino (central Italy), after a national salt iodination program (30 mg/kg) was introduced in 2005, the increased demand of iodine during pregnancy was satisfied. METHODS: Between January 2016 and April 2017, 99 pregnant women were enrolled to evaluate UIC in spot urine samples, serum level of thyrotropin, free thyroxine, antithyroglobulin and antithyroperoxidase autoantibodies, and thyroid volume by ultrasonography. Eighty clinically healthy non-pregnant women were evaluated as controls. RESULTS: The median UIC was of 97.7 µg/L and 110.3 µg/L, respectively, in control and pregnant women. A significant increase (P < 0.001) of median thyroid volume was found in pregnant women, relative to control women, being, respectively, 10.4 mL (range 3.68-19.49 mL) and 7.16 mL (range 2.57-14.00 mL). A positive correlation was found between thyroid volume and anthropometric parameters, and an inverse correlation was identified between free thyroxine serum levels and anthropometric parameters. CONCLUSIONS: This observational study found that the majority of pregnant women and their fetuses appear not to be protected from the detrimental consequences of iodine deficiency. Therefore, the identification of new strategies to increase the knowledge and awareness of the general population regarding the beneficial effects of iodine supplementation during pregnancy is highly required.