J. Podoba, k. Rácová, h. Urbánková, v. Cupaník, j. Hruška, a. Moresová, k. Kovaľová
After the introduction of iodine deficiency-related disorder prophylaxis with iodized
salt in 1951, endemic cretinism, endemic degenerations and endemic goitre completely
disappeared in Slovakia. Recent studies have suggested that neurocognitive
function in children may be impaired if pregnant women are exposed to even mild
iodine deficiency. After 15 years of an absolute absence of information on iodine in5
take in Slovakia, we carried out a pilot study to reveal iodine excretion in the Slovak
population with emphasis on pregnant women as the most vulnerable subpopulation.
An optimal even more than adequate iodine intake was found to be in all
age groups of the Slovak population with the exception of pregnant women. Iodine
nutrition in them is better than in the majority of the European countries but
still is suboptimal, corresponding with very mild iodine deficiency. Iodine nutrition
in them should be fortified by multivitamin preparations containing iodine. We recommend
to include the examination of urinary iodine into the screening of thyropathies
in early pregnancy.