1、 Causes of iodine deficiency in pregnant women

Pregnant women are at high risk of iodine deficiency for two main reasons. On the one hand, iodine is the core raw material for the synthesis of thyroid hormone. The maternal demand for thyroid hormone increases during pregnancy. At the same time, the fetal development also requires the synthesis of thyroid hormone, so the demand for iodine during pregnancy increases significantly. On the other hand, women's urine output increases during pregnancy, and iodine will be excreted from the kidneys with urine, making the excretion of iodine increase.

In general, women consume more iodine and excrete more iodine during pregnancy. Only increasing iodine intake can maintain the balance of iodine supply and demand in the body. If there is iodine deficiency in pregnant women, it will not only damage their health, but also lead to the lack of raw materials for the synthesis of thyroid hormone in the fetus, which will seriously affect the normal development of fetal brain tissue.

2、 Main sources of iodine supplementation during pregnancy

1. Iodized salt is the main source of iodine intake for human body. Eating iodized salt is the most economical and efficient way to improve the iodine nutritional status of mother, fetus and newborn.

2. Supplementary iodine source: Food

Food can only be used as an auxiliary way of iodine supplementation, and the iodine content of different foods varies greatly: kelp, seaweed and shrimp skin are high iodine foods; Iodine content of hairtail, yellow croaker and other common seafood is low; The iodine content of chicken and duck meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits and daily staple foods is very limited. Due to the high iodine demand during pregnancy, only relying on seafood supplements can not meet the physical needs of pregnant women.

3、 Time and dosage requirements of iodine supplementation during pregnancy

The amount of iodine supplementation should be differentiated according to whether or not to eat iodized salt: pregnant women who adhere to the daily consumption of iodized salt do not need to take additional iodine agents during pregnancy, and can be moderately supplemented with high iodine food; Pregnant women who do not eat iodized salt need to supplement 150 micrograms of iodine every day during pregnancy.

4、 Necessity of urinary iodine detection in pregnant women

Iodine is mainly excreted with urine through the kidney. The urinary iodine value can directly reflect the recent iodine intake level of the human body. It is the simplest and intuitive indicator to evaluate the iodine nutritional status of pregnant women. Therefore, it is necessary to detect urinary iodine during pregnancy.

First of all, women during pregnancy have special iodine metabolism, large demand and high excretion. It is impossible to accurately determine the iodine nutritional status by relying on dietary judgment alone. Urinary iodine detection can objectively screen for iodine deficiency, timely find hidden iodine intake deficiency, and avoid damage to maternal health and fetal brain development due to iodine deficiency. Secondly, some pregnant women have the situation of blind iodine supplementation. Excessive iodine supplementation will also disturb thyroid function and endanger the health of mothers and infants. Urinary iodine detection can determine whether iodine intake exceeds the standard, guide pregnant women to control the iodine dosage scientifically and avoid excessive iodine supplementation.

In addition, regular urinary iodine testing is particularly important for high-risk pregnant women who have insufficient pre pregnancy iodine reserves, do not eat iodized salt, and have an unbalanced diet. .