Iodine status in children with intestinal failure

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Nutritional Science
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Children requiring long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) are susceptible to iodine deficiency (ID).
• Existing data on ID in this population primarily comes from cross-sectional studies.
• Longitudinal data is needed to understand iodine status and associated factors in children with intestinal failure (IF).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate iodine status in children with IF receiving long-term PN.
• To identify factors associated with iodine status.
• To determine the prevalence of hypothyroidism in this cohort.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study followed children with IF undergoing intestinal rehabilitation.
• Key monitored parameters included urine iodine concentration (UIC), iodine intake, selenium levels, and thyroid function.
• ID was defined as UIC < 100 μg/L; statistical analysis used generalized estimating equations.

Main Results:

• Twenty-four children (mean age 62.7 months) on PN for a median of 46.5 months were analyzed.
• ID prevalence decreased from 83.3% at baseline to 45.8% at the final assessment.
• Positive association found between iodine intake from nutritional formulas and UIC (β = 0.71; p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Iodine deficiency is common in children with IF on long-term PN, but its prevalence decreases with adequate iodine intake from nutritional formulas.
• Severe combined iodine and selenium deficiencies were linked to hypothyroidism development in these children.