(P10-019-24) Positive Associations of Urinary Iodine Concentration With Serum Folate and Vitamin B12 in Expectant Mothers: Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: The observational study aims to explore the association between urinary iodine concentration and serum anemia related biomarkers among expectant mothers in Taiwan.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study using data from the Nationwide Nutrition and Health Survey conducted between 2017 and 2019 in Taiwan. The study included 1502 expectant mothers aged >15 years. Linear and binomial logistic regression analyses were used to assess the associations between urinary iodine concentration and serum anemia related biomarkers. Additionally, relative risk estimation was performed using urinary iodine as an independent variable and anemia related parameters as dependent variables. Various covariates including demographic and socioeconomic data were adjusted to strengthen the accuracy.

Results: Linear regression analysis found that urinary iodine concentration was positively associated with serum hemoglobin, folate, and vitamin D, but negatively correlated with total iron binding capacity (TIBC). After adjusting for covariates, binomial logistic regression showed that expectant mothers in the highest urinary iodine tertile (T3) had a reduced risk for deficiencies in serum folate (OR =0.57, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.83) and vitamin D (OR=0.73, 95% CI: 0.54, 0.99), but an increased risk for low TIBC (OR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.20, 2.11). Insufficient urinary iodine concentration ( < 1.18 µmol/L, < 150 µg/L) was significantly associated with a 28% higher risk of serum folate deficiency, a 14% higher risk of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, and a 13% lower risk of low TIBC.

Conclusions: Expectant mothers with normal iodine levels ( < 1.18 µmol/L) have lower risks of anemia linked to folate and vitamin B₁₂ deficiencies.

Funding Sources: No funding was received for this secondary data analysis.