Out of all the pregnant women, 44% ate iodised salt and 49% took multivitamins containing iodine or specific iodine supplements containing at least 100 g of iodine. The overall results show that the 'median ioduria, an indicator used to assess iodine nutritional status, was 137 g/litre, and was within the correct limits for the population at large, although "slightly" below the levels recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for pregnancy (150-249 g/l).

Various studies on the general population have shown a link between high iodine consumption and hypothyroidism. "However, data for pregnant woman are scarce and inconclusive. There is consensus, though, that the risks stemming from iodine deficiency, for the health of both mother and child, are greater than those from risks due to excessive iodine consumption", points out the researcher.

The team stresses a basic message. "Epidemiological monitoring of nutritional iodine status should be carried out on this population before making any automatic recommendations about taking iodine supplements during pregnancy. And above all, people should be encouraged to take iodised salt to ensure they have sufficient iodine levels long before pregnancy".

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