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High Urinary Iodine Concentration Among Breastfed Infants and the Factors Associated with Iodine Content in Breast Milk

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Abstract

Iodine deficiency in infants leads to delayed growth and development. Some studies have reported iodine deficiency among infants and lactating women. We assessed iodine status in infants and lactating women, as well as the iodine content in breast milk. A cross-sectional study enrolled mother-infant pairs (infants aged 4–6 months), who visited Well Child Clinic at Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Infants were classified by feeding type as breastfed (BF), mixed breastfed and formula-fed (MF), and formula-fed (FF). Demographic and perinatal data were collected. The urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of infants and lactating women, and breast milk iodine concentration (BMIC) were analyzed. Seventy-one infants were enrolled. The median UIC of infants was 282 mcg/L. Breastfed infants had higher median UIC than formula-fed infants (553 vs. 192 mcg/L; p = 0.002). Forty-eight percent of infants had a UIC more than 300 mcg/L. The median UIC and BMIC of lactating women were 149 and 255 mcg/L, respectively. Among the BF group, the infant UIC was correlated with maternal UIC (rs = 0.857, p = 0.014). Multiple linear regression showed the BMIC to be associated with maternal UIC (β = 4.03, 95% CI [1.34, 6.71]) and maternal weight (β = 8.26, 95%CI [2.76, 13.77]). Iodine nutrition among our study population was adequate. The median UIC of infants and lactating mothers were 282 and 149 mcg/L, respectively. Breastfed infants had a significantly higher median UIC than formula-fed infants. The BMIC was associated with maternal UIC and maternal weight.

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Acknowledgements

We express our sincere thanks to all participants in our study, healthcare personnel at the well child clinic and lactation clinic of the Faculty of Medicine of Ramathibodi Hospital for their cooperation. We are grateful to Professor Pat Mahachoklertwattana for his suggestions on the manuscript, and Miss UmapornUdomsubpayakul for her assistance in statistical analyses. We thank Arshad Makhdum, PhD, from Edanz Group (www.edanzediting.com/ac) for editing a draft of this manuscript.

Funding

This study was funded by the Development Potential of Thai People Project, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, 270 Rama VI Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand

    Oraporn Dumrongwongsiri, Phanphen Phoonlabdacha, Umaporn Suthutvoravut & Nalinee Chongviriyaphan

  2. Pediatrics Nursing Division, Nursing Service Department, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, 270 Rama VI Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand

    Suthida Chatvutinun

  3. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, 270 Rama VI Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand

    Areeporn Sangcakul

  4. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, 270 Rama VI Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand

    La-or Chailurkit

  5. Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, 272 Rama VI Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand

    Atitaya Siripinyanond

Authors
  1. Oraporn Dumrongwongsiri
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Correspondence to Oraporn Dumrongwongsiri.

Ethics declarations

The study protocol was approved by the Committee of Human Rights Related to Research Involving Human Subjects, Faculty of Medicine of Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (protocol number 01-54-01). All mothers provided written inform consent before enrollment. All procedures performed in the study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Dumrongwongsiri, O., Chatvutinun, S., Phoonlabdacha, P. et al. High Urinary Iodine Concentration Among Breastfed Infants and the Factors Associated with Iodine Content in Breast Milk. Biol Trace Elem Res 186, 106–113 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-018-1303-4

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