Iodine status of pregnant women in the Chinese plateau area - effects on thyroid function as well as adverse pregnancy and fetal outcomes.

Mild iodine deficiency is common among pregnant women in plateau areas of China. The relationship between iodine and thyroid function is significant in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, especially in those with moderate to severe iodine deficiency. Abnormal iodine level in pregnant women was not significantly associated with adverse pregnancy and fetal outcomes in areas with predominantly mild iodine deficiency.