Iodized Salt May Not Be Sufficient to Guarantee an Adequate Iodine Intake in Pregnant Women.

Adequate iodine intake is of crucial importance in pregnancy to meet the thyroid hormone needs of both mother and fetus. In the present study, undertaken as a part of the surveillance actions following the introduction in Italy of a national salt iodination program in 2005, the iodine intake was investigated in 123 pregnant women and 49 control women living in the same area of central Italy. All the participants were screened for urinary iodine concentration (UIC), serum level of thyrotropin, free-thyroxine, free-triiodothyronine, and thyroid volume. Moreover, they were provided with a questionnaire on the use of iodine-containing salt or supplements. Control women had a median UIC of 102 µg/L, consistent with an iodine sufficiency, while in pregnant women the median UIC value was 108 µg/L, lower than the endorsed UIC of 150 µg/L. In addition, pregnant women showed a significantly increased median thyroid volume compared to controls. Interestingly, the median UIC did not differ between pregnant women not using iodine-containing salt or supplements and those regularly consuming iodized salt alone, while pregnant women with a daily intake of iodine-containing supplements had an adequate median UIC (168 µg/L). In conclusion, the data reported here showed that pregnant women and their fetuses are still exposed to the detrimental effects of iodine deficiency and that the consumption of iodine-containing supplements should be recommended in pregnancy.

Iodine Status in Schoolchildren and Pregnant Women of Lazio, a Central Region of Italy.

The inhabitants of Lazio, similarly to those of other Italian regions, have been historically exposed to the detrimental effects of an inadequate intake of iodine. The latter is a micronutrient essential for the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones (TH). Iodine deficiency is responsible for a number of adverse effects on human health known as iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), the most common of which worldwide are goiter and hypothyroidism. In order to reduce IDD, a national salt iodination program was started in Italy in 2005. In this article we reviewed the available data regarding iodine intake in the Lazio population before and after the introduction of the national salt iodination program, in order to evaluate its efficacy and the eventual problem(s) limiting its success. On the whole, the information acquired indicates that, following the introduction of the program, the dietary iodine intake in the Lazio population is improved. There is, however, still much work ahead to ameliorate the iodine prophylaxis in this region. In fact, although a generally adequate iodine intake in school-age children has been observed, there are still areas where a mild iodine insufficiency is present. Moreover, two independent epidemiological surveys on pregnant women evidenced a low urinary iodine concentration with respect to the reference range conceived by the World Health Organization. These findings demonstrate the need for greater attention to the iodine prophylaxis by health care providers (i.e., obstetricians, gynecologists, pediatricians, etc.), and the implementation of effective advertising campaigns aimed at increasing the knowledge and awareness of the favorable effects of iodine supplementation on population health.

Liquid liothyronine to obtain target TSH in differentiated thyroid cancer patients.

In the last ten years a liquid formulation of liothyronine (L-T3) became available. To date, no studies on its systematic use have been reported. This study is aimed at assessing the reliability of liquid L-T3 in achieving target TSH in patients with differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC). Twenty-one high risk DTC patients in whom levothyroxine treatment up to 2.0 µg/kg/day did not suppress TSH levels (i.e. >0.1 mIU/L) were selected. Maintaining the same L-T4 dose, they started to assume liquid L-T3 at an initial fixed dose of 3.55 µg (5 drops). Further adjustments of L-T3 dose were tailored according to individual assessment. Initial serum TSH ranged from 0.8 to 12.0 mIU/L, when patients assumed high dose of L-T4 alone. Following the addition of a daily single dose of 3.55 µg L-T3, the target TSH was attained in five patients (23.8%). After increasing L-T3 dose up to a mean of 7.3±3.4 µg/day all patients reached target serum TSH (<0.1 mIU/L). The mean individual L-T3 dose was significantly correlated with the body weight and was 0.11±0.04 µg/kg/day (p=0.013). Mean L-T4:L-T3 ratio was 21:1. No patients showed skewed free-T3 or free-T4 values, neither experienced discomfort nor reported adverse events. Liquid L-T3 can be useful to achieve optimal TSH suppression in high risk DTC with not suppressed TSH on L-T4 alone. This formulation allows an individual tailoring of L-T3, minimizing risks of side effects as well as of overtreatment in these clinical conditions.