| Abstrakt: |
Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) is used to assess iodine intake at the population level. The aim of the study was to assess the current iodine intake of pregnant women in Bulgaria by analyzing the median urinary iodine concentration (mUIC). Material: 537 pregnant women, mean age of 30,49±5 years were studied. A cross-sectional multicenter population-based study was conducted in 2019 in a total of 84 settlements in Bulgaria consisting of regions with a known iodine deficiency in the past (Smolyan, Goce Delchev, Troyan, Gabrovo, Sofia), as well as regions with iodine sufficiency (Pleven, Burgas, Stara Zagora). Methods: TSH was quantified by the ECLIA method and the UIC was determined by certified inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: In three regions a slightly reduced mUIC was found (Gotse Delchev, Gabrovo, Troyan). A comparison was made between these three regions and the other seven with normal mUIC. Significantly more pregnant women from Gabrovo-Troyan-Gotse Delchev had low UIC (<149 µg/L) compared to pregnant women from other regions (59% vs 38,1%) and conversely significantly fewer of them had over-optimal UIC (>250 µg/L) – 6,4% vs 21,8%, p<0,001. Pregnant women who did not take any medications, including combined vitamins with minerals from Gabrovo-Troyan-Gotse Delchev were 23,1% vs 15,7% in the other seven regions (p<0,006). Conclusion: During pregnancy it is important to substitute with combined vitamins and minerals to ensure sufficient additional intake of iodide for this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
