Nutritional Iodine Status of Breast-Feeding Mothers and Their Neonates in Kayseri

Purpose: Iodine deficiency, the most common cause of brain damage in children, remains a critical health problem in Kayseri, Central Anatolia. This study aimed to evaluate the iodine intake of breast-feeding mothers and their neonates and determine breast-milk iodine content after mandatory salt iodization in Kayseri. Material and Methods: For the study, a total of 70 breast-feeding mothers and their neonates living in Kayseri or surrounding districts were selected. Their urine samples and breast-milk were obtained between 5-28th days after delivery. Results: The mean age of the mothers was 26.0±5.0 years and 18.0±5.4 days for the neonates. The median urinary iodine concentrations of mothers and neonates were found as 70.2 μg/l and 100 μg/l, respectively which were markedly higher than those determined before salt iodization; 54.3% of the mothers and 31.4% of neonates were still at risk of iodine deficiency. UIC of neonates was not different from UIC of mothers (p>0.05). The mean breastmilk iodine content was determined as 3.25 μg/dl. Breast-milk iodine content was significantly different from urinary iodine concentration of neonates and mothers (p<0.001). Conclusions: Iodine supplementation improved the iodine status of breast-feeding mothers and neonates but was insufficient to normalize levels. National salt iodization program needs to be strengthened and to ensure that women consume iodized salt during pregnancy and lactation.