Check-up Investigation of Iodine Supplies of Neonates andtheir Mothers in Two Arreas of the Czech Republic after Three Years of Intervention

Overview

Background.
The worldwide elimination of iodine deficiency is at present one of the priorities of WHO. Thehighest risk group with regard to sequelae of inadequate iodine supplies are even in case of a milder iodine deficiency,human foetuses during the foetal and early infantile period (endemic cognitive disorder). An epidemiological surveyin three areas of the Czech Republic (Prague, Příbram, Ústí n. Labem) in 1993-95 in 5-day old infants and theirmothers provided evidence of a medium grade iodine deficiency in Prague and the Příbram area. The objective ofthe epidemiological check-up survey of ioduria of neonates in 1997 (Prague, Příbram) is the evaluation of the successof preventive provisions which were implemented for a period and educational activities, recommendations to take100 mg iodine to all pregnant and lactating mothers, fortification of infant foods with iodine, increasing and improvingthe standard of iodine in table salt (27 ± 7 mg l/kg salt as potassium iodate).Methods and Results. In 1997 the ioduria of two groups of full-term neonates and their mothers was assessed onthe fifth day after delivery. Fifty neonates and their mothers were from Prague, 50 from Příbram. Ioduria was assessedin morning urine samples by the method of Ing. Bílek (National list of laboratory items MZ, SLP type N-SPA-BANO,code Joduria (photometry), key BIAAA, published in 1997). The results were statistically computed using Bartlett’schi-aquare and Kruskalov-Vallis’ H test and Student’s t-test. The median of ioduria in Prague neonates was 7.93 mgl/100 ml and in Příbram neonates 7.83 mg l/100 ml urine. The median values of maternal ioduria were 5.90 mg l/100ml in Prague and 7.23 mg l/100 ml urine in Příbram.Conclusions. The median ioduria values of neonates from two areas (Prague and Příbram), previously (93-94) inthe zone of medium iodine deficiency, increased significantly during three years of intervention and in 1997 theyreached normal levels of ioduria for the given age group.

Key words:
medium grade iodine deficiency, neonates, cognitive endemic disorder, intervention.