The prevalence of insufficient iodine intake in pregnancy in Africa: a systematic review and meta‑analysis
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Systematic Reviews
Abstract
Fortification of foodstuffs with iodine, mainly through iodization of salt, which commenced in several
African countries after 1995 is the main method for mitigating iodine deficiency in Africa. We assessed the degree
of iodine nutrition in pregnancy across Africa before and after the implementation of national iodine fortification
programs (CRD42018099434).
Methods: Electronic databases and gray literature were searched for baseline data before implementation of population-
based iodine supplementation and for follow-up data up to September 2020. R-metamedian and metamean
packages were used to pool country-specific median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) estimates and derived mean
UIC from studies with similar features.
Results: Of 54 African countries, 23 had data on iodine nutrition in pregnancy mostly from subnational samples. Data
before 1995 showed that severe iodine deficiency was prevalent in pregnancy with a pooled pregnancy median UIC
of 28.6 μg/L (95% CI 7.6–49.5). By 2005, five studies revealed a trend towards improvement in iodine nutrition state in
pregnancy with a pooled pregnancy median UIC of 174.1 μg/L (95% CI 90.4–257.7). Between 2005 and 2020 increased
numbers of national and subnational studies revealed that few African countries had sufficient, while most had mildly
inadequate, and some severely inadequate iodine nutrition in pregnancy. The pooled pregnancy median UIC was 145
μg/L (95% CI 126–172).
Conclusion: Improvement in iodine nutrition status in pregnancy following the introduction of fortification of
foodstuffs with iodine in Africa is sub-optimal, exposing a large proportion of pregnant women to the risk of iodine
deficiency and associated disorders.
Description
Keywords
Iodine, Insufficiency, Pregnancy
Citation
Businge, C. B., Longo-Mbenza, B., & Kengne, A. P. (2019). The prevalence of insufficient iodine intake in pregnancy i https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-022-02072-6