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Maternal iodine status in a multi‐ethnic UK birth cohort: Associations with child cognitive and educational development
Author(s) -
Threapleton Diane E.,
Snart Charles J. P.,
Keeble Claire,
Waterman Amanda H.,
Taylor Elizabeth,
Mason Dan,
Reid Stephen,
Azad Rafaq,
Hill Liam J. B.,
Meadows Sarah,
McKillion Amanda,
Alwan Nisreen A.,
Cade Janet E.,
Simpson Nigel A. B.,
Stewart Paul M.,
Zimmermann Michael,
Wright John,
Waiblinger Dagmar,
MonWilliams Mark,
Hardie Laura J.,
Greenwood Darren C.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
paediatric and perinatal epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.667
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3016
pISSN - 0269-5022
DOI - 10.1111/ppe.12719
Subject(s) - medicine , interquartile range , pregnancy , pediatrics , confidence interval , cohort , cohort study , biology , genetics
Background Maternal iodine requirements increase during pregnancy to supply thyroid hormones critical for fetal neurodevelopment. Iodine insufficiency may result in poorer cognitive or child educational outcomes but current evidence is sparse and inconsistent. Objectives To quantify the association between maternal iodine status and child educational outcomes. Methods Urinary iodine concentrations (UIC) and iodine/creatinine ratios (I:Cr) were measured in 6971 mothers at 26‐28 weeks' gestation participating in the Born in Bradford cohort. Maternal iodine status was examined in relation to child school achievement (early years foundation stage (EYFS), phonics, and Key Stage 1 (KS1)), other learning outcomes, social and behavioural difficulties, and sensorimotor control in 5745 children aged 4‐7 years. Results Median (interquartile range) UIC was 76 µg/L (46, 120), and I:Cr was 83 µg/g (59, 121). Overall, there was no strong or consistent evidence to support associations between UIC or I:Cr and neurodevelopmental outcomes. For instance, predicted EYFS and phonics scores (primary outcomes) at the 25th vs 75th I:Cr percentiles (99% confidence intervals) were similar, with no evidence of associations: EYFS scores were 32 (99% CI 31, 33) and 33 (99% CI 32, 34), and phonics scores were 34 (99% CI 33, 35) and 35 (99% CI 34, 36), respectively. Conclusions In the largest single study of its kind, there was little evidence of detrimental neurodevelopmental outcomes in children born to pregnant women with iodine insufficiency as defined by World Health Organization–outlined thresholds. Alternative functional biomarkers for iodine status in pregnancy and focused assessment of other health outcomes may provide additional insight.