A systematic review of iodine intake in children, adults, and pregnant women in Europe-comparison against dietary recommendations and evaluation of dietary iodine sources
Bath SC, Verkaik-Kloosterman J, Sabatier M, Borg ST, Eilander A, Hora K, Aksoy B, Hristozova N, van Lieshout L, Besler HT, Lazarus JH (2022) Nutrition Reviews 10;80(11) 2154-2177. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuac032.
Web URL: Read this article via PubMed here - Free Full text is available online
Abstract:
Context:
Adequate iodine intake is essential throughout life. Key dietary sources are iodized salt and animal products, but dietary patterns in Europe are changing, for example toward lower salt intake and a more plant-based diet.
Objective:
To review iodine intake (not status) in European populations (adults, children, and pregnant women) to identify at-risk groups and dietary sources.
Data sources:
PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases, as well as European national nutrition surveys were searched for data on had iodine intake (from dietary assessment) and sources of iodine, collected after 2006.
Data selection:
In total, 57 studies were included, comprising 22 national surveys and 35 sub-national studies. Iodine intake data were available from national surveys of children aged
Results:
Iodine intake data are lacking-only 17 of 45 (38%) European countries had iodine-intake data from national surveys. Iodine intake reported from national surveys was below recommendations for:
(1) children aged <10 years in 2 surveys (18%),
(2) boys and girls aged 11-17 years in 6 (50%) and 8 (68%) surveys, respectively, and
(3) adult men and women in 7 (47%) and 12 (80%) surveys, respectively.
In pregnant women, intake was below recommendations except where women were taking iodine-containing supplements.
Just 32% of national surveys (n = 7) included iodized salt when estimating iodine intake. Milk, dairy products, fish, and eggs were important contributors to intake in many countries, suggesting limited sources in plant-based diets.
Conclusion:
Results are limited by the challenges of dietary assessment for measuring iodine intake. Future national surveys should include iodine intake. Policy makers should consider dietary sources alongside any iodized salt policies when considering methods for improving population iodine intake.
Systematic review registration: PROSPERO 2017 CRD42017075422.
FAB RESEARCH COMMENT:
Iodine deficiency is widespread even in most developed countries, as this new review of the available European data shows - although data collection in most countries still remains sub-optimal.Adequate dietary iodine in pregnancy and ealy life is essential for children's healthy brain development and function, and numerous studies have confirmed that deficiencies during this critical period can have lifelong consequences.
Even mild to moderate deficiencies in pregnancy have been shown to significantly reduce children's cognitive and behavioural development, preventing them from reaching their potential. See:
Unlike most developed countries the UK still has no public health policy on iodine (such as iodising salt or other basic foodstuffs), but analyses have indicated that simply providing pregnant women with iodine supplements would be cost-effective. See:
For more information - and extensive FAB comments - on this subject, please see the following lists of news and research articles, which are regularly updated:
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