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Iodine status from childhood to adulthood in females living in North-East Italy: Iodine deficiency is still an issue

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Abstract

Purpose

This survey aimed to assess iodine status in a female population at different ages, also investigating their eating habits.

Methods

We measured urinary iodine concentrations (UIC) in: 634 females at puberty and 361 fertile women in 246 of whom were considered also their children (134 daughters and 120 sons). All subjects completed a food frequency questionnaire.

Results

Median UIC decreased from childhood to adulthood (median UIC 107, 77 and 55 μg/l in the young girls, females at puberty and fertile women, respectively). Though using iodized salt improved iodine status in all groups, a significantly higher UIC was only noted in females at puberty. Milk consumption significantly increased UIC at all ages. In mother–child (both daughters and sons) pairs, the children’s median UIC was nearly twice as high as their mothers’ (UIC 115 vs. 57 μg/l). Milk consumption varied significantly: 56 % of the mothers and 76 % of their children drank milk regularly. The children (both daughters and sons) and mothers who drank milk had UIC ≥100 μg/l in 59 and 34 % of cases, respectively, among the pairs who did not drink milk, 44 % of the children and 19 % of the mothers had UIC ≥100 μg/l. On statistical regression, 3.6 % of the variability in the children’s UIC depended on that of their mothers.

Conclusions

Dietary iodine status declines from childhood to adulthood in females due to different eating habits. A mild iodine deficiency emerged in women of child-bearing age that could have consequences during pregnancy and lactation.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova (Protocol No. 22078 to C. M.).

Conflict of interest

The authors have no competing interests to declare.

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Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padua, Via Ospedale n.105, 35128, Padua, Italy

      Sara Watutantrige Fernando, Elisabetta Cavedon, Davide Nacamulli, Dina Pozza, Maria Elisa Girelli, Loris Bertazza, Susi Barollo & Caterina Mian

    2. Sports Medicine Division, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padua, Padua, Italy

      Andrea Ermolao & Marco Zaccaria

    Authors
    1. Sara Watutantrige Fernando
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    2. Elisabetta Cavedon
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    3. Davide Nacamulli
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    4. Dina Pozza
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    6. Marco Zaccaria
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    7. Maria Elisa Girelli
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    8. Loris Bertazza
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    9. Susi Barollo
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    10. Caterina Mian
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    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to Caterina Mian.

    Additional information

    Sara Watutantrige Fernando and Elisabetta Cavedon have contributed equally to this work.

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    Watutantrige Fernando, S., Cavedon, E., Nacamulli, D. et al. Iodine status from childhood to adulthood in females living in North-East Italy: Iodine deficiency is still an issue. Eur J Nutr 55, 335–340 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-015-0853-x

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-015-0853-x

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