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The aim of this study was to assess the thyroid status of pregnant women on the basis of biochemical indicators and to evaluate the potential risk of developing iodine deficiency as a result of tobacco smoke exposure by assessing the association between urinary thiocyanate levels and the manifestation of iodine deficiency. The study included 219 pregnant women from the town of Plovdiv and Plovdiv District in Southern Bulgaria. The levels of urinary iodine, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and urinary thiocyanate as indicators of tobacco smoke exposure were measured. Most of the pregnant women (60.1 %) were found to have iodine deficiency, 10.6 % of them had TSH values greater than 4 mIU/L, and 16.4 % had FT4 below 9 pmol/L. There were negative correlations between urinary iodine levels and thiocyanate/creatinine ratio (R = -0.148, р = 0.034) and between thiocyanate/creatinine ratio and FT4 (R = -0.379, p < 0.0001); thiocyanate/creatinine ratio and serum TSH were positively correlated (R = 0.169, p = 0.019). Logistic regression analysis showed that pregnant women in whom the thiocyanate/creatinine ratio was greater than the median value of 3.57 mg/g had a 3.882-fold higher risk of developing iodine deficiency (urinary iodine <150 μg/L) than the pregnant women with lower thiocyanate levels (OR = 3.882, 95 % CI 1.402-10.751, p = 0.009). Higher levels of urinary thiocyanate were found in women exposed to tobacco smoke, and quantification of these ions in urine provided a fast non-invasive method to monitor thiocyanate load. Due to the competitive inhibition of iodine intake by thiocyanates, their levels should be carefully monitored, especially in cases of severe iodine deficiency.

Objective: This study highlights the relationship between some eating habits and iron status during pregnancy.Subjects: The study included 219 healthy pregnant women aged 27.6 ± 5.7 years from southern Bulgaria.Methods: Subjects' iron status was assessed on the basis of the following iron indicators: hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), serum transferrin receptor (sTfR), and body iron index (mg/kg).Results: Severe anemia among the women from southern Bulgaria was not observed. Advanced pregnancy and some eating habits are factors that deteriorate iron status. Women who had consumed fish at least 3 times a week had lower levels of sTfR (р = 0.008), higher levels of SF (р = 0.05), and lower levels of body iron (р = 0.018). Frequent legume consumption was related to increased levels of sTfR (р = 0.036). Pregnant women with a high frequency of coffee consumption had lower values of body iron (р < 0.0001). Women who had consumed cow's milk at least 3 times a week had lower levels of SF (р = 0.026) and body iron (р = 0.042).Conclusions: Regular consumption of fish and legumes, rarely drinking coffee, and milk consumption during the intervals between food intake are conditions for optimization of iron status during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A significant part of Bulgaria is considered an iodine-deficient area. The National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) was developed in 1994, and regular surveys undertaken in 2000-2003 indicated a normalization of the iodine supply in the Bulgarian population, including some at-risk population groups (children, schoolchildren, pregnant women). Despite the results achieved, mandating periodic cohort surveys for tracking the elimination of iodine deficiency is necessary. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of the the national strategy for improvement of iodine nutrition in children and pregnant women living in an iodine-deficient area in Bulgaria 15 years after its update. Subjects and methods: Study subjects were 73 children aged 9.21 ± 2.07 years (29 boys and 44 girls) and 16 pregnant women living in the town of Asenovgrad. Urinary iodine concentration was measured and used as an index of iodine intake. Results: The median urinary iodine of the inspected children was between 100-199 μg/l, which is an indicator of optimal iodine nutrition. Almost 1/3 of the children (31.5%) had iodine deficiency. The median urinary iodine concentration of the 16 pregnant women investigated was 127.0 μg/l, which is an indicator of insufficient iodine intake. Conclusion: Despite the normalization of the iodine supply in the past years in the at-risk population groups of children and pregnant women, a considerable portion of them still has iodine deficiency. Recommendations for improving health education and iodine nutrition in at-risk population groups were made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]