Strategies to Improve Iodine Status in Early Pregnancy

Queen's University, Belfast119 enrolled

Overview

This study aims to investigate the benefit of increased intake of cows' milk during pregnancy on iodine status.

Women of child bearing age, and those who are currently pregnant, have been found to be iodine deficient in the United Kingdom (UK). Dairy products are an essential source of iodine in the UK as iodised salt is not widely available. This study will ask women in the intervention group to drink approximately one pint of milk a day for 12 weeks during pregnancy.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

119

Conditions

Iodine Deficiency Pregnancy Related

Interventions

Cows' milkDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Intervention groups will receive a free 12 week supply of cows' milk equating to a pint a day for study participants. Milk is provided by Lakeland dairies.

British Dietetic Association Iodine Fact Sheet.OTHER

All participants will receive the British Dietetic Association Iodine fact sheet which discusses the importance of iodine and the dietary sources.

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * women at 6-16 weeks pregnant * women receiving antenatal care within Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Exclusion Criteria: * women with known thyroid disease currently taking thyroid medication * women with type one diabetes * women under 18 years of age * those unable to provide informed consent * women with abnormal thyroid function tests at booking appointment.

Locations (1)

Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital

Belfast, United Kingdom

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Urinary iodine concentration

Proportion of the maternal cohort who achieve WHO urinary iodine concentration(UIC) of \>=150 micrograms/litre on early morning spot urinary sampling at 12 weeks post intervention.

Time frame: 18 months

Secondary Outcomes

Iodine knowledge

Knowledge regarding iodine intake in the diet in pregnancy and into postpartum assessed using an iodine knowledge questionnaire that will be completed by participants at the beginning and the end of the study period.

Time frame: 24 months

Iodine intake

Intake of iodine rich foods at 29 weeks and postpartum in those who breastfeed will be assessed using four day food diaries at the beginning and end of the study, and validated iodine-specific food frequency questionnaires at the beginning of the study, at the end of the intervention period, six weeks after the end of the intervention period and at the end of the study.

Time frame: 24 months

Offspring

Proportion of offspring with adequate UIC at 6-12 weeks old.

Time frame: 24 months.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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