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The nutritional iodine supply of Belgian neonates is still insufficient
Roberta Ciardelli1, Dominique Haumont, Danielle Gnat
1Department of Paediatrics, Saint-Pierre Hospital, University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
Insights
Belgian neonates show improved iodine nutrition, but levels remain suboptimal. While iodine-enriched formula helps preterms, national interventions are needed to address widespread iodine deficiency in pregnant and lactating women.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Nutritional Science
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Belgium previously faced mild iodine deficiency.
- Recent improvements in schoolchildren's iodine nutrition were observed without systematic supplementation.
- The impact of this 'silent iodine prophylaxis' on neonates was investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess iodine nutrition status in Belgian neonates.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of iodine-enriched formula in preterm infants.
- To determine the iodine content in breast milk.
Main Methods:
- Collected 185 urine samples from 90 full-term and 65 preterm neonates in Brussels.
- Repeated urine sampling on day 30 for 30 preterm infants fed iodine-enriched formula.
- Analyzed iodine content in 58 breast milk samples on day 5.
Main Results:
- Median urinary iodine in full-term neonates was 86 µg/L, higher than 15 years prior but below normal (150-200 µg/L).
- Mean breast milk iodine was 78 µg/L, unchanged and at 66% of normal.
- Urinary iodine increased from 60 µg/L to 150 µg/L in preterm infants fed enriched formula.
Conclusions:
- Iodine nutrition has improved in Belgian neonates but not normalized.
- Lactating and pregnant women exhibit clear iodine deficiency.
- Iodine-enriched formula effectively corrects deficiency in preterms; national measures are needed.
Unlabelled:
Belgium used to be affected by mild iodine deficiency. Improvement in iodine nutrition has been recently documented in schoolchildren in Belgium in spite of the absence of any systematic programme of iodine supplementation. The question arises as to whether this 'silent iodine prophylaxis' affected also the neonates. A total of 185 random urine samples were collected from 90 full term and 65 preterm neonates in Brussels on day 5 and repeated on day 30 in 30 preterms who were bottle-fed with iodine-enriched formula-milk. The iodine content was also determined in 58 samples of breast-milk on day 5. The median urinary iodine on day 5 in full term neonates was 86 micro g/l, which is markedly higher than the figure of 48 micro g/L reported 15 years previously in neonates in the same area but still much lower than normal for this age group (150-200 micro g/l). The mean iodine content of breast-milk was 78 micro g/l, which is unchanged as compared to 15 years ago and is about 66% of normal. Finally, the median urinary iodine increased from 60 micro g/l on day 5 to 150 micro g/l on day 30 in preterms bottle-fed with iodine-enriched formula-milk.
Conclusion:
the status of iodine nutrition has also improved spontaneously in Belgian neonates but has not yet normalised. Lactating and probably pregnant women remain clearly iodine deficient. The iodine-enriched formula-milk for preterms is efficient in correcting their iodine deficiency. National measures are urgently required for correction of iodine deficiency in Belgium.
