Relationship between iodine knowledge and dietary iodine intake in pregnant and lactating women: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed the iodine knowledge of pregnant and lactating women, and the relationship to dietary iodine intake and iodine status. The factors influencing iodine intake were analyzed. Design: Basic information and iodine knowledge were collected via a questionnaire. A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) assessed dietary iodine intake. The urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was measured using the Arsenic-Cerium Catalytic Spectrophotometric Determination of Iodine in Urine (WS/T 107 -2016). Setting: A cross-sectional study involving pregnant and lactating women in Xinjiang, China was conducted. Participants: A total of 1181 pregnant women and 504 lactating women were enrolled in the study. Results: The median UIC for pregnant and lactating women was 179.27 and 191.40 µg/L, respectively, and the dietary iodine intake was 407.16 and 356.89 µg/day, respectively. Of the pregnant and lactating women, 83.9% and 86.5% had medium iodine knowledge, respectively. In pregnant women, iodine knowledge and dietary iodine intake were positively correlated. High iodine knowledge and iodine education were shown to be protective factors for excessive iodine intake in pregnant women. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the iodine nutritional status of women in Xinjiang was appropriate, and iodine knowledge was at a medium level, but there was confusion about iodine nutrition. Public education is needed to improve iodine knowledge and active iodine supplementation awareness among these populations of women.

Low Iodine Nutrition Knowledge in Chinese Breastfeeding Women despite Adequate Iodine Status

“…Studies investigating knowledge about iodine nutrition knowledge and its relationship with iodine status in pregnant and lactation are limited in China [ 10 , 11 , 41 , 42 ]. Of these four studies, three studies only focused on pregnant women [ 11 , 41 , 42 ], and one study included both pregnant and lactating women [ 10 ].…”

“…Studies investigating knowledge about iodine nutrition knowledge and its relationship with iodine status in pregnant and lactation are limited in China [ 10 , 11 , 41 , 42 ]. Of these four studies, three studies only focused on pregnant women [ 11 , 41 , 42 ], and one study included both pregnant and lactating women [ 10 ]. A study by Wang et al described that, in Zhejiang province, the mean iodine nutrition knowledge scores of iodine-sufficient pregnant women in coastal regions were lower than those of iodine-deficient pregnant women in inland regions (24.2 points vs. 25.0 points) ( p < 0.001) [ 11 ].…”

“…At the same time, there was a gradual increase in IDD awareness among the Chinese population, largely driven by the implementation of USI, as well as health promotion and education initiatives [ 8 , 9 ]. Despite these efforts, there has been no improvement in knowledge about iodine nutrition [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Additionally, the iodine status of pregnant and lactating women has not been addressed [ 6 ].…”

“…Additionally, the iodine status of pregnant and lactating women has not been addressed [ 6 ]. Having adequate knowledge about iodine nutrition may help women proactively consume iodine from iodine-rich diets during pregnancy and lactation, meeting the iodine requirements of both the mother and fetus [ 10 ]. Additionally, increasing public awareness and understanding of iodine nutrition contributes to a reduction in IDDs in populations [ 13 ].…”

“…Additionally, increasing public awareness and understanding of iodine nutrition contributes to a reduction in IDDs in populations [ 13 ]. Since iodine can only be obtained from diets, information about iodine requirements during pregnancy and lactation may be important to prevent suboptimal iodine intake and improve women’s knowledge of iodine [ 10 , 11 ]. In China, this information is not often communicated to pregnant and lactating women because it is generally assumed that women can obtain enough iodine from their diet because of the mandatory universal salt iodization.…”