Situación actual del estado nutricional del yodo en gestantes de la región de Murcia, Espa?a

摘要

The aim of this work was to identify iodine levels in the first term of pregnancy in women attending health care centers of Sanitary Area I of Murcia (Spain), and the relationship of said levels with food intake and iodine supplements. Apart from that, thyroid gland function was assessed in the same group. A descriptive transversal study was performed. The sample group consisted of 37 pregnant women who had a first appointment at the corresponding midwifery service from March to August 2011. The variables studied were urinary iodine levels through isolated sample collection, frequency of intake of iodine related to food and iodine supplements (data obtained through a face to face interview and a structured questionnaire administered among the participats in the study), and levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH and free T4 obtained from a blood sample. Eighty-six per cent of the study group had iodine deficiency. Statistically significant differences were found in urinary iodine excretion, in intake of iodine salt and of sea food. However, no other variable studied presented any statistically significant difference. Three pregnant women were found with subclinical hypothyroidism and one presented subclinical hyperthyroidism. Furthermore, these results showed that TSH levels can be lower in pregnant women than in the general population. On the basis of the normal urinary iodine excretion obtained, the supply of iodine in the study group is insufficient. Moreover, It would be desirable to include the systematic determination of free T4 and TSH in the first term of pregnancy so as to to correct a likely thyroid dysfunction as soon as possible in order to avoid possible damage to the foetus.