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Effects of iodine supplementation during pregnancy on child growth and development at school age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2002

Karen J O'Donnell
Affiliation:
Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
Murdon Abdul Rakeman
Affiliation:
Xinjiang Anti-Epidemic and Health Station, China.
Dou Zhi-Hong
Affiliation:
Xinjiang Anti-Epidemic and Health Station, China.
Cao Xue-Yi
Affiliation:
Xinjiang Anti-Epidemic and Health Station, China.
Zeng Yong Mei
Affiliation:
Mingyuan Petroleum Hospital, Urumchi, China.
Nancy DeLong
Affiliation:
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
Gerald Brenner
Affiliation:
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
Ma Tai
Affiliation:
Department of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical College, Tianjin, China.
Wang Dong
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Tianjin Medical College, Tianjin, China.
G Robert DeLong
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
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Abstract

Growth and development of 207 children (49% males; mean age 5.4 years [SD 0.2], range 4 to 7.3 years whose mothers received iodine during pregnancy, and children who received iodine first in their 2nd year, were examined in 1996; 192 children (49% males; mean age 6.5 years[SD 0.2], range 5.8 to 6.9 years) whose mothers received iodine while pregnant were seen in 1998. Children were from the southern part of China's Xinjiang Province which has the lowest levels of iodine in water and soil ever recorded. Head circumference but not height was improved for those who received iodine during pregnancy (compared with those receiving iodine at age 2) and for those supplemented before the end of the 2nd trimester (relative to those supplemented during the 3rd trimester). Iodine before the 3rd trimester predicted higher psychomotor test scores for children relative to those provided iodine later in pregnancy or at 2 years. Results from the test for cognitive development resulted in trend only differences between those children supplemented during pregnancy versus later. The results address the question of when maternal iodine supplements should begin in public health programs world wide. Findings may be relevant to the treatment of maternal and newborn thyroid deficiency in industrialized countries, particularly for those infants delivered before the end of the second trimester.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
© 2002 Mac Keith Press

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