Breast Milk Iodine and Iodine Status of Breast-Fed Infants.

Background: Breast milk is the only source of iodine for exclusively breast-fed infants. Iodine status of breast-fed infants depends on iodine in breast milk and also number of feeding in 24 hours. Iodine deficiency and iodine excess both have bad impact on infant’s health. Objective: To measure the iodine in breast milk and to evaluate iodine status of their breast-fed infants. Materials and method: This observational analytical study was carried out in the department of Biochemistry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka with active cooperation of Kumudini Women’s Medical College Hospital, Mirzapur, Tangail involving fifty lactating mothers and their exclusively breast-fed infants. Early morning urine and breast milk samples were collected in dry and clean plastic container free from any chemical contamination. Urinary iodine was used as indicator for assessing iodine status. All statistical analyses were done by using SPSS (statistical programme for social science) 12 version software package for Windows. Results: The median (range) urinary iodine concentration of lactating mothers and their breast-fed infants were 225.25 μg/L (61.50-530.00) and 225.75 μg/L (100.50-526.00) respectively. The median (range) breast-milk iodine concentration was 157 μg/L (54.50-431.50) which was more than three times of recommended minimum concentration (50 μg/L). Only 2 (4%) lactating mothers had mild biochemical iodine deficiency (UIE, 50-99 μg/L). There was no biochemical iodine deficiency of breast-fed infants. Iodine in breast milk of lactating mothers was positively correlated with their urinary iodine excretion (p<0.01). Infant’s urinary iodine was positively correlated with iodine concentration in breast milk (p<0.01) and with urinary iodine of lactating mothers (p<0.01). Conclusion: Lactating mothers and their breast-fed infants in this study were iodine sufficient. If iodine content of breast-milk is within normal range, 10-12 numbers of feeding in 24 hours for infants is enough to get sufficient iodine from their mother’s milk.

Study of Forced Expiratory Volume in First Second (FEV1) and Ratio of Forced Expiratory Volume in First Second and Forced Vital Capacity in Percentage (FEV1/FVC%) in Pregnant Women.

Background: A few data are available on the effects of pregnancy on pulmonary function in different countries. But no such established data are available in our country. So we designed this study in our population. Objectives: To observe the forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) and ratio of forced expiratory volume in first second and forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC%) in different trimesters of normal pregnant women and to compare them with those of healthy non-pregnant women. Materials and Methods: This observational and analytical study was carried out in the department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College during July 2004 to June 2005. Total 100 women aged from 25 to 35 years without any recent history of respiratory tract diseases were selected as study population. Among them, 75 normal pregnant women were taken as experimental and 25 healthy non-pregnant women were taken as control groups. The experimental group included 25 pregnant women in first trimester, 25 in second trimester and 25 in third trimester. Forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), ratio of percentage of forced expiratory volume in first second and forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC%) were measured in pregnant and non-pregnant control women. The FEV1 and FEV1/FVC% were measured by using an ‘automatic spirometer’. Statistical analyses were done by unpaired Student’s ‘t’ test between the study groups and p value <0.05 was taken as significant. Results: The mean ± SD of measured values of FEV1 were 2.41 ± 0.87, 2.28 ± 0.59, 2.15 ± 0.74 and 1.89 ± 0.76 liters in non-pregnant women and in pregnant women during first trimester, second trimester and third trimester. The mean ± SD of measured values of FEV1/FVC% were 75.22 ± 16.77, 74.86 ± 11.06, 74.42 ± 17.43 and 71.81 ± 15.87% in nonpregnant women and in pregnant women during first trimester, second trimester and third trimester. Conclusion: The FEV1 and FEV1/FVC% were significantly lower in third trimester pregnant women than that of non-pregnant and first trimester of pregnant women and FEV1/FVC% gradually decreased from first to third trimester of pregnant women.

Comparison of ABO and Rh-D Blood Group Systems between the Garo Tribal People of Mymensingh and General People of Dhaka City.

Background: The distribution pattern of ABO and Rh-D blood group in our country including the tribal people is not fully established as elaborated and large scale studies have not been carried out on it. Therefore this study was designed to observe the distribution pattern of ABO and Rh-D blood groups among the Garo tribes of Mymensingh and general people of Dhaka city. Objectives: To determine and to compare the distribution pattern of ABO and Rh-D blood groups among the Garo tribal people of Mymensingh and general people of Dhaka city and to compare this distribution between this two groups. Materials and Methods: This observational study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from July 2008 to June 2009. After proper ethical consideration total 900 Garo people of Mymensingh and 784 general people of Dhaka city were included in this study. The Garo localities and the general people of Dhaka city were selected by systematic random sampling. ABO and Rh-D blood groups were determined by the antigen antibody agglutination test of slide method. Chi square statistical analyses were done to compare the results of ABO blood group systems between the Garo people and general people of Dhaka city. Results: This study revealed that there are significant variations in the distribution of ABO and Rh-D blood groups between the Garo tribal people of Mymensingh and the general people of Dhaka city. In this study it was observed that blood group ‘A’ was apparently predominant in Garo population, while blood group ‘B’ was predominant in general population (p<0.001), blood group ‘AB’ and ‘O’ were almost similar in both groups. Rh typing of the participants reveals that majorities of both groups were Rh positive. Rh negative persons are rare in both populations, but it is extremely rare in the Garo population (0.9%). Conclusion: From the findings of the present study it can be concluded that distribution of ABO and Rh-D blood groups varies between the Garo tribal people and the general people of Dhaka city.

Urinary Iodine Excretion of Lactating Mothers Predicts the Iodine Content of Their Breast Milk.

Background: Iodine is essential for normal growth, mental development and survival of infants. Bangladesh is an iodine deficient region. Breast milk is the only source of iodine for exclusively breast-fed infants. Routine measurement of breast milk iodine concentration is very difficult in our country due to some social and religious barriers. So, we designed this study in our population using urinary iodine as the indicator for assessing iodine status. Objectives: To assess the iodine status of lactating mothers and their breast-fed infants and to propose a method on how to predict the iodine concentration in breast milk. Materials and Methods: This observational analytical study was carried out in the department of Biochemistry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka with active cooperation of Kumudini Women’s Medical College Hospital, Mirzapur, Tangail involving fifty lactating mothers and their exclusively breast-fed infants. Early morning urine and breast milk samples were collected in dry and clean plastic container free from any chemical contamination. All statistical analyses were done by using SPSS (Statistical Programme for Social Science) 12 version software package for windows. Results: The median (range) urinary iodine concentration of lactating mothers and their breast-fed infants were 225.25 μg/L (61.50-530.00) and 225.75 μg/L (100.50-526.50). 96% (48) mothers had no biochemical iodine deficiency (UIE ≥100μg/L), only 4% (2) mothers had mild biochemical iodine deficiency (UIE 50-99μg/L). There was no biochemical deficiency of breast-fed infants. The median (range) breast-milk iodine concentration was 157 μg/L (54.50-431.50) which was more than three times of recommended minimum concentration (50 μg/L). Iodine in breast milk of lactating mothers positively correlated with their urinary iodine excretion (P<0.01). Infant’s urinary iodine positively correlated with iodine concentration in breast milk (P<0.01) and also positively correlated with urinary iodine excretion of lactating mothers. Conclusion: Lactating mothers and their breast-fed infants in this study were found iodine sufficient. Urinary iodine concentration of lactating mothers predicts the iodine content of their breast milk.