Insufficient iodine intake in pregnant women in different regions of the world: a systematic review.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE\nTo determine the prevalence of insufficient iodine intake in pregnant women.\n\n\nMATERIALS AND METHODS\nThe search was performed in the electronic databases Medline (PubMed), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (Lilacs) and Scopus. Review studies, experimental studies, those with adolescent pregnant women (< 20 years) and iodine supplementation were excluded. The selection followed the steps of identifying the articles in the databases, deleting the duplicates, and reading the titles, abstracts, and then the entire article. The search for the articles occurred in September 2017, using the descriptors pregnant and iodine deficiency NOT supplementation in English, Portuguese and Spanish.\n\n\nRESULTS\nThirteen articles were included, the deficiency prevalence ranged from 16.1% to 84.0%, and the median of iodine intake was insufficient in 75% of the studies. There is no classification for mild, moderate or severe levels of iodine deficiency in pregnant women, which makes it impossible to know the real dimension of the problem.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nThe high prevalence of insufficient iodine intake in pregnant women, observed worldwide, shows the need for a population classification in order to direct public policies. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2019;63(3):306-11.