Urinary iodine deficiency in Gippsland pregnant women: the failure of bread fortification?

Objective: To assess iodine status and the factors that influence iodine status among a cohort of pregnant women living in Gippsland.

Design, Participants And Setting: Cross-sectional study of 86 pregnant women (at ≥ 28 weeks' gestation) conducted in hospital antenatal care services and private obstetrician clinics across the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia, from 13 January 2009 to 17 February 2010.

Main Outcome Measures: Overall proportion of pregnant women with a urinary iodine concentration (UIC) > 150 μg/L; proportion of pregnant women with a UIC >150 μg/L after the mandatory iodine fortification of bread; use of supplements containing iodine; intake of foods known to be good sources of iodine; intake of bread.

Is Gippsland environmentally iodine deficient? Water iodine concentrations in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia.

Objective:   This paper provides evidence of environmental iodine deficiency in the Gippsland region.

Design:   Quantitative study; water samples were collected from 18 water treatment plants and four rain water tanks across Gippsland and water iodine concentrations were measured.

Setting:   Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia.