Cohort Profile: The Iodine Status in Pregnancy and Offspring Health Cohort (ISPOHC)

The Iodine Status in Pregnancy and Offspring Health Cohort (ISPOHC) was initiated in Shanghai to address the need for a comprehensive and longitudinal study on iodine nutrition and its effects on maternal and offspring health. The findings based on the Shanghai population can serve as a reference for other megacities experiencing significant dietary changes simultaneously. ISPOHC utilized a stratified cluster random sampling design, enrolling 5,099 pregnant women from all 16 districts of Shanghai. The survey has been conducted in three phases. Data collected at different time points include health status, living habits, dietary intake, birth, feeding, early development, anthropometric measurements, and biomarkers, allowing for an in-depth evaluation of iodine nutrition's impact on offspring development. Data were collected through a combination of questionnaires, home visits, anthropometric measurements, and biological sample collection. The integration of detailed food investigation and on-site weighing of household seasonings provides a more precise assessment of dietary iodine intake, particularly iodized salt consumption, distinguishing this study. The study has provided significant insights into the relationship between iodine nutrition during pregnancy and various health outcomes.