ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the iodine nutritional level and thyroid function of pregnant and lactating women in rural areas of Jilin province. Methods The investigation sites were selected from rural areas of three towns (Baoshan, Mingcheng and Yantongshan of Panshi county, Jilin province) in 2009. The pregnant and lactating women were selected as subjects in these three towns. The blood samples were collected and the thyroid function (including serum TT3, TT4, FT3, FT4) were measured with chemiluminescence, and serum thyroglobulin antibodies(TgAb), thyromicrosome antibody(TMAb), and thyroglobulin(Tg) were measured with radioimmunoassay (RIA). The urine samples were collected three times within one month and were measured for iodine concentration by As-Ce catalytic spectrophotometry method. Results In the pregnant women, serum TT3 was higher than that of healthy pregnant women, accounted for 14.3%(8/56), while serum TT4, TT3, FT4 were lower than those of healthy pregnant women, accounted for 3.6%(2/56),5.4% (3/56), and 1.8%(1/56), respectively. In the lactating women,serum TT3 was higher than that of healthy lactating women, accounted for 3.6%(2/56), while serum TT4, FT4 were lower than those of healthy lactating women, accounted for 1.8%(1/56), respectively. Five per cent to 20% of the pregnant and lactating women had higher TgAb and TMAb. Conclusions Existing salt iodine level is appropriate for pregnant women and lactating women, but there was a tendency towards hypothyroid in some women. Routine monitoring of urinary iodine and thyroid function should be carried out among pregnant and lactating women.