Estimated Urinary Iodine Excretion Using the Iodine-to-Creatinine Ratio from Spot Urine Samples in Nicaraguan Pregnant Women
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5377/ul.v17i1.22016Keywords:
Iodine deficiency, Iodine, Iodine/Creatinine index, Thyroid functionAbstract
Iodine is an essential component for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. During pregnancy, there is an increased demand for all nutritional requirements due to the elevated metabolic rate necessary for embryonic development; consequently, iodine requirements during pregnancy increase to values ranging from 150 to 250 µg/day. An intake below normal iodine levels may lead to alterations in thyroid function, affecting fetal development as well as the neurological development of the infant. The present study focused on the assessment of urinary iodine excretion using the iodine-to-creatinine ratio in pregnant women. A total of 81 participants were analyzed, evaluating their clinical and epidemiological characteristics, urinary iodine concentrations, and iodine excretion adjusted per gram of urinary creatinine. The study population was predominantly of urban origin (64.6%), with a mean age of 24 years; most were housewives, multiparous, with a mean gestational age of 21 weeks, and the majority reported no pathological medical history. Iodine sufficiency was observed in 44.4% of participants, while 5% presented more than adequate iodine excretion. The median urinary iodine concentration was 143.7 µg/L; when urinary iodine was adjusted for creatinine, the median iodine excretion was 124 µg/g. An increase in the proportion of more-than-adequate iodine excretion was observed, reaching up to 18.5% after creatinine adjustment.
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