Nutritional Status of Iodine in Pregnant and Lactating Women Living in Kashi after Implementing an Emergent Iodine Supplementation Program

Objective  To evaluate the nutritional status of iodine in pregnant and lactating women in Kashi Prefecture, Xinjiang in 2012 after implementing an emergent iodine supplementation for 3 months, and to provide evidence for the prevention and control of iodine deficiency.

Methods  Urine samples from 2 152 pregnant women and 111 lactating women were collected in 12 cities and iodine deficient areas in 2012; and salt samples and drinking water samples were collected from their household. Iodine in salt was determined by direct titration; and iodide in urine and water was determined by ammonium persulfate digestion-arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometry.

Results  The median of urinary iodide in pregnant women was 228.95 μg/L, which were in the range of 2.00 μg/L~549.90 μg/L; and the qualification rate was 52.38%. The median of iodide in salt was 35.16 mg/kg, and the gualification rate was 62.39%. The median of iodide in water was 5.65 μg/L, and the qualification rate was 19.82%.

Conclusion  The average nutritional status of iodine in pregnant women and nursing mothers in Kashi Prefecture was in the normal range of national hygienic standards after the emergency measure had been taken; It is necessary to keep the current emergent measure, and to strengthen monitoring at the same time.