Iodine deficiency in pregnant women through neonatal tsh assessment study retrospective of neonatal screening in Romania

Iodine is an essential micro-nutrient for the human being taking in account its role in the synthesis of thyroid hormone. In pregnancy it is an increased iodine requirement according to the high metabolic rate and if the iodine requirement is not covered by an adequate intake the pregnant women and the fetus are at risk of iodine deficiency consequences This paper work aims to evaluate neonatal TSH as a marker of iodine status of women in pregnancy, which in pregnant women include, abortion, premature birth, low birth weight, increased perinatal mortality and in newborn impaired brain development and low IQ. Currently, iodine deficiency prevention in Romania is implemented by law 586 /2002 and 1904/2004 which indicate the mandatory iodization of table salt and the mandatory use of iodized salt in the bakery. The neonatal TSH was retrospectively analyzed from MEDILOG neonatal screening registry Romania. The individual TSH values were rated against a threshold of 5 mIU/L from 317449 children enrolled in the screening program for congenital hypothyroidism in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023. In Romania 23.5% of neonates have TSH values above the previous mentioned threshold, fact which enrolls the population as moderate iodide deficient (according to UNICEF, WHO norms). There are differences at different couny level with a iodide deficiency ranking from mild to moderate. There are no differences between endemic and non-endemic areas. The results of this study are discussed in the context of similar works at the national and international level.