Maternal iodine status reflects the iodine status of their breast-fed infants
The objective of the observational analytical study was to assess the iodine status of lactating mothers and their breast-fed infants and to evaluate whether maternal iodine status reflects the iodine status of their breast-fed infants. The study was carried out in the department of Biochemistry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka with active cooperation of Kumudini Womens Medical College Hospital, Mirzapur, Tangail involving fifty lactating mothers and their exclusively breast-fed infants. Early morning urine and breast milk samples were collected in dry and clean plastic container free from any chemical contamination. Urinary iodine excretion (UIE) was used as indicator for assessing iodine status. The median (range) urinary iodine concentration of lactating mothers and their breast-fed infants were 225.3 ?g/L (61.5-530.0) and 225.8?g/L (100.5-526.0), respectively. Of the mothers, 96% (48) had no biochemical iodine deficiency (UIE ?100?g/L), only 4% (2) had mild biochemical iodine deficiency (UIE, 50-99?g/L). There was no biochemical iodine deficiency of breast-fed infants. The median breast-milk iodine concentration was 157?g/L which was more than three times of recommended minimum concentration (50?g/L). Iodine in breast milk of lactating mothers was positively correlated with their UIE (p < 0.01). Infants urinary iodine was positively correlated with iodine concentration in breast milk (p < 0.01) and also positively correlated with urinary iodine of lactating mothers (p < 0.01). Lactating mothers and their breast-fed infants in this study were iodine sufficient. Iodine status of exclusively breast-fed infants can be determined by the iodine status of their mothers.Mediscope Vol. 2, No. 1: 2015, Pages 13-17