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Development of thyroid gland volume during the first 3 months of life in breast-fed versus iodine-supplemented and iodine-free formula-fed infants

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Summary

The spontaneous development of thyroid gland volume (TGV) during the first 3 months of life was studied in entirely breast-fed infants (n = 21) and compared to those fed an iodine-supplemented formula (n = 19), an iodine-free formula (n = 5), or partially breast-fed in addition to an iodine-free (n = 4) or an iodine-supplemented formula (n =16). The TGV of the infants and their mothers was determined sonographically in addition to their urinary iodine concentrations 57 days postpartum and 3 months later. In ten additional lactating mothers the breast milk concentrations of thyroid hormones and iodine were determined. It was shown that at 3 months of age an infant consuming about 1000 ml breast milk per day receives about 2 μg thyroid hormones and 55 μg iodine per day. At the end of their first week of life the infants showed a TGV between 0.28 and 1.5 ml (median 0.61 ml) and a urinary iodine concentration between 0.03 and 16.3 μg/dl (median 3.0 μg/dl). At 3 months of age the TGV of the breast-fed infants had decreased by a median of 0.24 ml (= −34%; median of percentage changes) whereas those fed a formula without iodine had increased by a median of 0.26 ml (= + 50%; median of percentage changes). Those receiving an iodine-supplemented formula showed a TGV reduction of 0.14 ml (= +2%; median of percentage changes). The TGV development of the partially breast-fed infants lay between those being exclusively breast or formula fed. It is concluded that with respect to the development of TGV, breast milk is superior even to the feeding of an iodine-supplemented formula.

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Abbreviations

TGV:

thyroid gland volume

T3 :

triiodothyro-nine

T4 :

thyroxine

rT3 :

reverse triiodothyronine

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zentrum der Kinderheilkunde, Abteilung Allgemeine Pädiatrie I, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universitat, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

    H. Böhles, M. Aschenbrenner, M. Roth & V. v. Loewenich

  2. Zentrum der Radiologie, Abteilung Pädiatrische Radiologie, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

    F. Ball

  3. Zentrum der Inneren Medizin, Abteilung Endokrinologie, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

    K. H. Usadel

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  1. H. Böhles
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  2. M. Aschenbrenner
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  4. V. v. Loewenich
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  5. F. Ball
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Böhles, H., Aschenbrenner, M., Roth, M. et al. Development of thyroid gland volume during the first 3 months of life in breast-fed versus iodine-supplemented and iodine-free formula-fed infants. Clin Investig 71, 13–20 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00210957

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00210957

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