Hümeyra ACIKAN, Nihal HATİPOĞLU, Sabahattin MUHTAROĞLU
The Journal of Pediatric Academy - 2026;7(2):55-61
Iodine is an essential trace element for all newborns. The aim of this study was to evaluate iodine levels during the neonatal period and conditions associated with iodine deficiency by examining thyroid function tests and anthropometric parameters. A retrospective analysis was performed on 169 screen-positive newborns who were referred to a tertiary pediatric endocrinology clinic. Newborns were classified according to iodine status and thyroid function. Evaluation was performed on 169 newborns, of whom 50.9% were female and 49.1% were male. The median spot urine iodine concentration (SUIC) of all the infants was 120 (70-195) mug/L. Iodine deficiency was the most common condition, occurring in 39.6%, and excessive iodine levels were present in 23.1%. Birth weight and body mass index were significantly lower in the iodine-deficient group, whereas thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were higher in the high-iodine group (all p<0.05). A weak positive correlation was observed between SUIC and TSH levels (r=0.202, p=0.004), whereas a weak negative correlation was observed between SUIC and free thyroxine levels (r=-0.161, p=0.023). In this referral-based cohort of screen-positive newborns, 28.4% were diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism, 23.7% with subclinical hypothyroidism, and 47.9% were euthyroid. Iodine deficiency in newborns remains a relevant public health concern in our region. In addition, elevated iodine levels were detected in approximately one-fifth of the study population. Although iodine status was weakly correlated with thyroid function parameters, it did not influence the final thyroid diagnosis. These findings suggest that spot urinary iodine concentration is more appropriate for population-based assessment rather than individual diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction.
