Iodine adequacy in reproductive age women living in the Western region of Saudi Arabia

Abstract Background Despite the significance of iodine deficiency in women of reproductive age due its associated serious maternal and foetal complications, surveys related to this vulnerable population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are lacking. This study, therefore, aimed to measure the frequency alongside the potential socioeconomic factors contributing towards iodine inadequacy in Saudi women of childbearing age from the Western province of KSA.Methods Urinary iodine concentrations IUIC) were measured in random spot samples collected from 1222 pregnant women and 400 age-matched non-pregnant/non-lactating women. The socioeconomic characteristics were obtained through a structured questionnaire. The classification of iodine sufficiency was based on the WHO criteria for UIC in pregnant (150–249 μg/L) and non-pregnant women (100–199 μg/L).Results The UIC median in the non-pregnant women (101.64 μg/L; IQR: 73.72) was at the lowest WHO recommended cut-off. The pregnant women, on the other hand, had a median UIC (112.99 μg/L; IQR: 104.56) markedly below the minimal WHO limit for pregnancy. Coherently, the median IUC was below adequacy across the trimesters and was lowest during the first trimester. Additionally, 49.7% (n = 199) of the non-pregnant and 62.5% (n = 764) of pregnant women were iodine deficient as per the WHO criteria. While pregnancy (OR = 4.3; 95%CI: 3.08–5.96) and using non-iodised salt (OR = 1.96; 95%CI: 1.35–2.83) significantly increased the risk of iodine deficiency, the intake of iodine supplements significantly lowered the risk (OR = 0.010; 95%CI: 0.006–0.017). On the other hand, the intake of iodine above requirement was observed in 8.5% and 4.2% of the non-pregnant and pregnant women, respectively. Moreover, BMI was the sole independent factor increasing the odds (OR = 1.061; 95%CI: 1.010–1.114) of taking iodine above requirements.Conclusions This study is the first to show high prevalence of mild iodine deficiency among reproductive age Saudi women, which could represent a serious public health problem. This study also advocates the necessity to establish routine iodine dietary advice services by the health authorities to foster adequate iodine intake in pregnant women to avoid the perilous maternal-foetal health consequences of iodine deficiency.