A case for universal salt iodisation to correct iodine deficiency in pregnancy: another salutary lesson from Tasmania.

Objective: To assess the impact of iodine fortification of bread on the iodine status of pregnant women, and to determine if studies of iodine levels in school-age children were indicative of women's gestational iodine status.

Design: Urinary iodine surveys of pregnant Tasmanian women before and after bread was fortified with iodine in October 2001.

Participants And Setting: 285 women attending the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) antenatal clinic from 1 October 2000 to 30 September 2001 and 517 women attending the RHH antenatal clinic or primary health care centres in 2003-2006.