Čes-slov Pediat 2024, 79(3):142-144 | DOI: 10.55095/CSPediatrie2024/021

Utilization of neonatal screening in monitoring of iodine status

Martin Světnička^{1, 2}, Monika Hedelová³, Hana Vinohradská⁴, Eva El-Lababidi^{1, 2}

¹ Klinika dětí a dorostu, 3. lékařská fakulta, Univerzita Karlova a Fakultní nemocnice Královské Vinohrady, Praha

² Centrum pro výzkum výživy, metabolismu a diabetu, 3. lékařská fakulta, Univerzita Karlova, Praha

³ Laboratoř novorozeneckého screeningu, Klinika dětí a dorostu, 3. lékařská fakulta, Univerzita Karlova a Fakultní nemocnice Královské Vinohrady, Praha

⁴ Laboratoř novorozeneckého screeningu, Oddělení dětské hematologie a biochemie, Lékařská fakulta, Masarykova univerzita a Fakultní nemocnice Brno

The iodine supply of pregnant and lactating women is crucial for the health of the fetus and newborn, especially for the proper function of the thyroid gland. Inadequate iodine saturation can lead to serious consequences, including permanent health damage to the child. In the Czech Republic, we use neonatal TSH obtained within the Nationwide Newborn Screening Program for Congenital Hypothyroidism

to monitor the iodine supply of newborns. The monitoring results were favorable until recently (until 2018 in Bo

hemia and until 2022 in Moravia); however, in recent years, there has been an increase in the percentage of newborns with elevated TSH, indicating a deepening iodine deficiency in this vulnerable population. One of the reasons may be inadequate iodine supplementation of pregnant women beyond the normal dietary intake (i.e., 150-

200 µg of iodine per day) and a decrease in the consumption of dairy,

eggs and iodized salt. The Czech Republic must now focus again on this at-risk population regarding the deepenin

g iodine deficiency. It is important to focus primarily on educational activities and ensure adequate iodine supplementation during pregnancy.

Keywords: iodine, iodine deficiency, neonatal screening

Accepted: April 3, 2024; Published: May 1, 2024  Show citation