IODINE SUPPLY OF HEALTHY INFANTS IN GERMA NY

In 78 healthy term babies from Dusseldorf and surroundings spontaneous urine samples were collected on day 108 to day 144 of life and analyz ed for the content of iodine and creatinine. 26 babies were breast fed . 23 babies received an iodized hypoallergenic formula and 26 babies d ifferent commercial formulas only partly iodized. From 4 parameters to estimate iodine supply of the babies (urinary iodine concentration mu g/dl, iodine/creatinine ratio mug/g; estimated daily iodine excretion mug/d, estimated daily iodine excretion corrected for body surface are a mug/d/1,73 m2) estimated daily iodine excretion was the most useful parameter. Breast fed babies showed a significantly lower estimated da ily iodine excretion (median 32 mug/d) than babies fed the hypoallerge nic (52 mug/d) or a commercial formula (54 mug/d). In Germany with an insufficient iodine supply of pregnant and lactating mothers breast fe d infants run a risk for an insufficient iodine supply. Furthermore, s upplementation of infant formulas with iodine started in 1990/1991 pro ved to be a sufficient measure to correct iodine deficiency.