Symposium on ‘Geographical and geological influences on nutrition’ Iodine deficiency in industrialised countries

Abstract

Iodine deficiency is not only a problem in developing regions; it also affects many industrialised countries. Globally, two billion individuals have an insufficient iodine intake, and approximately 50% of continental Europe remains mildly iodine deficient. Iodine intakes in other industrialised countries, including the USA and Australia, have fallen in recent years. Iodine deficiency has reappeared in Australia, as a result of declining iodine residues in milk products because of decreased iodophor use by the dairy industry. In the USA, although the general population is iodine sufficient, it is uncertain whether iodine intakes are adequate in pregnancy, which has led to calls for iodine supplementation. The few available data suggest that pregnant women in the Republic of Ireland and the UK are now mildly iodine deficient, possibly as a result of reduced use of iodophors by the dairy industry, as observed in Australia. Representative data on iodine status in children and pregnant women in the UK are urgently needed to inform health policy. In most industrialised countries the best strategy to control iodine deficiency is carefully-monitored salt iodisation. However, because approximately 90% of salt consumption in industrialised countries is from purchased processed foods, the iodisation of household salt only will not supply adequate iodine. Thus, in order to successfully control iodine deficiency in industrialised countries it is critical that the food industry use iodised salt. The current push to reduce salt consumption to prevent chronic diseases and the policy of salt iodisation to eliminate iodine deficiency do not conflict; iodisation methods can fortify salt to provide recommended iodine intakes even ifper capitasalt intakes are reduced to <5 g/d.

Progress and challenges in eliminating iodine deficiency in Ethiopia: a systematic review

“…must be considered [24,45]. Notably, cassava, which plays a dominant role in feeding many people in most tropical developing countries, contains cyanogenic glucosude, a goitrogen that inhibits iodine uptake by the thyroid gland during consumption of unprocessed cassava [46].…”

Prevalence of iodine deficiency disoriders among school children in Saudi Arabia: results of a national iodine nutrition study

“…IDD results from insufficient iodine in the environment and inadequate iodine intake from food (6). Salt iodization as a safe, cost-effective and sustainable strategy to ensure sufficient iodine intake was recommended by WHO and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in 1994 (7).…”

Iodine status of Queensland children and the associations with diet and thyroid function

“…No such relationship has been determined in Australia, however, understanding the ecological cycle of iodine (155), and taking into account that species and abundance of seaweed is greater in warmer Australian waters compared to cooler Australian waters (195,196) A cross sectional survey is warranted across the various states of Australia to investigate whether this hypothesis has any merit. It is important to note, that the Australian national iodine status often refers to an average of 5 states, two sufficient, and the other three deficient.…”

“…Iodine enters the food chain in the form of iodide through an ecosystem that cycles evaporated iodide or iodate from the ocean to land soils and water reservoirs (155).When this system is disturbed by floods, landslides or drought, the amount of iodine that enters the food chain is consequently affected (155). Differences in environmental iodine exposure is often recognised as a key contributor to the spatial distribution of iodine status within populations (11,130,(153)(154)(155).…”

“…Differences in environmental iodine exposure is often recognised as a key contributor to the spatial distribution of iodine status within populations (11,130,(153)(154)(155). For example, variations in DWICs have been associated with iodine deficiency and excess in Denmark (154).…”