ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effects of different level of iodine nutrition on the thyroid function in women of reproductive age. Methods A total of 100 (50 from each) women of reproductive age but not pregnant were collected from iodine deficient and adequate areas. The questionnaire was obtained individually with items concerning personal history of thyroid diseases, goiters and category of edible salt and drinking water based on the project design. The household salt and drinking water were collected for measuring iodine content, and blood samples were obtained for TSH, FT4 and FT3 testing. Results The coverage of iodized salt and the median level of urinary iodine in iodine deficient women(72.0% and 95.5 μg/L) were obviously lower than that in iodine sufficient women(100.0% and 167.4 μg/L, χ2=16.28, U = 632.00, P < 0.01). Median level of serum TSH in iodine deficient women (2.56 m U/L) appeared in an increasing tendency compared to the iodine sufficient women (1.88 mU/L), but there was no significance (U=990.50, P > 0.05). Serum FT4 mean level in iodine deficient women [(14.7±2.0) pmol/L]was lower than that in iodine sufficient women[(17.0±3.8)pmoI/L, t=3.76, P<0.01]. There was no difference in serum FT3 between two group women[(5.1±1.4), (4.8±0.5)pmoI/L, t = 1.59, P > 0.05]; but FT3/FT4 ratio in iodine deficient women(0.33±0.04) was markedly higher than that in the iodine sufficient women(0.30±0.04, t=3.13, P<0.01). The percentage of thyroid dysfunction in iodine deficient women[20.0% (10/50)]was higher compared with the iodine sufficient women[8.0%(4/50)], but without significance(χ2=2.99, P>0.05). Conclusions Iodine deficiency is a primary cause leading to hypothyroid in women of reproductive age. Long term of iodized salt usage is an efficient way to correct iodine deficiency.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of seafood intake on the urinary iodine level in women for exploring an alternative to iodine supplementation.Methods Healthy pregnant women and non-pregnant women, aged 20～40 years,were selected during their health examination in local women'S health care in 2006.The types of seafood and its intake frequency were recorded from these women.and urine and kitchen salt samples were collected for iodine determination.Results A total of 198 women including 148 pregnant and 50 non-pregnant women were recmitod for this study;they had a median level of urine iodine of 87.51 mg/L.The median levels of urine iodine of83.49,91.52,166.45μg/L in three group women classified as hardly,seldom and often intake of see food showed significant difference(X2=6.202,P<0.05).Urine iodine level in non-pregnant women taking seafood (90.94μg/L)was higher than that in pregnant women(84.79μg/L),the difference being statistically significant (U=3318.00,P<0.05).The urine iodine in pregnant women with seldom intake of seafood(94.46 μg/L)was significantly higher than that in the hardly intake women(83.28 μg/L),the difference being statistically significant (U=1257.5,P<0.05).During late period of gestation,the urinary iodine in the women ofthree statUS of hardly. Seldom and often intake of seafood were 81.93,97.97 and 140.18 μg/L,respective,with significant differences among them.Conclusions A certain amount of seafood taken every week Can increase urine iodine levels,and a direct relationship Was observed.Therefore,we suggest that it is necessary to advocate taking seafood to pregnant women for prevention of cretinism,particularly in the air.as where iodized salt was difficult to implement.