Awareness of the population in Russian Federation about iodine deficiency, its effects and methods for prevention of iodine deficiency disorders.

Abstract

Background: Throughout all territory of Russian Federation has been confirmed absence of iodine deficiency of varying severity. Chronic iodine deficiency leads to irreversible defects in the intellectual and physical development of children, thyroid gland diseases, including such severe manifestations as functional autonomy and iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis and reproductive disorders.
 Aims: To assess the awareness of Russians about the effect of iodine deficiency on health and the need to use iodized salt in food.
 Materials and methods: During November 2019 we conducted an anonymous online survey about iodine deficiency and methods of its prevention. The participants of this survey were 9309 Russians of different age categories. Weasked each respondent six questions regarding their knowledge about the importance of iodine for the body and its supply sources. This study is one-staged, uncontrolled, full-designed, and conducted using Google Forms (Google LLC, 2019). As a result, we summarized data on the awareness of Russians about iodine deficiency disorders and methods for its prevention.
 Results: 60.4% of respondents is using iodized salt, while the number of respondents who consider prevention with iodized salt to be unhealthy (or have lack knowledge of its effects) is related to the number of respondents who do not use iodized salt. We get that in Volga region only 50% of population is using iodized salt (the lowest level), while 62.83% of the European South inhabitants is using iodized salt. In the rest of Russian Federation, this indicator varies from 52 to 57%. There is a low awareness of the population about prevention of iodine deficiency disorders and as a result myth about the dangers of universal salt iodization are widespread in Russian Federation.
 Conclusions: Awareness of Russians about prevention of iodine deficiency disorders still remains at a low level, and it is directly affecting the success of ongoing prevention programs.

The problem of iodine deficiency in the Chechen republic: assessment of the current state and ways of solution

“…По результатам анкетирования взрослого населения Чеченской Республики, проведенного в рамках данного исследования, утвердительные ответы о регулярном использовании йодированной соли в питании были получены от 26,7% респондентов, что в более чем 2 раза отличается от истинной доли домохозяйств с йодированной солью в питании (11,7%). Таким образом, по результатам исследования отмечаются низкая информированность населения о проблеме йододефицита (осведомлены только 57%) и еще более низкая приверженность респондентов к проведению массовой йодной профилактики, что в целом согласуется с данными других опросов населения РФ [ 16 ]. Этот анализ также демонстрирует, что в рамках эпидемиологических исследований и для мониторинга эффективности программ профилактики ЙДЗ необходимо использовать методики качественной или количественной оценки содержания йода в пищевой соли, а не данные опросов населения.…”

Modern forms of iodine-containing food components

“…Iodine deficiency may interrupt biological functions and cause the development of endocrinological diseases such as goiter, hypothyroidism and cognitive impairment. A study by the National Research Center for Endocrinology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation showed that annually, 1.5 million adult patients and 600 thousand children with endocrinological disorders receive medical care in the Russian Federation [9]. In monetary terms, the cost of treatment exceeds 250 billion rubles, which is 5 times more than the amount needed to organize measures to prevent all iodine deficiency disorders in the Russian Federation.…”

Epidemiological studies of iodine deficiency in Novosibirsk: data of 25-years observation

“…Результаты опроса показали, что 60,4% опрошенных используют в быту йодированную соль, только половина (52,73%) респондентов, проживающих на территории Западной Сибири, потребляют йодированную соль. Однако очень небольшое количество (57 человек) жителей Западной Сибири приняли участие в опросе [17].…”