Iodine deficiency in pregnant women in Europe

Abstract

The adverse effects of iodine deficiency in populations (decreased IQ, goiter, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism) are easily corrected with salt iodisation. 1 Zimmermann MB Boelaert K Iodine deficiency and thyroid disorders. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2015; 3: 286-295 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (381) Google Scholar However, these adverse effects continue to be a problem in many countries, with an estimated 1·9 billion people at risk worldwide. 2 Zimmermann MB Andersson M Update on iodine status worldwide. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2012; 19: 382-387 Crossref PubMed Scopus (174) Google Scholar All European countries endorsed the goal of elimination of iodine deficiency at the 1992 World Health Assembly (WHA), and the 2005 WHA again called on all Member States to regularly monitor iodine nutrition. WHO recommends use of the median urinary iodine concentration in national or regional surveys to classify iodine nutrition in populations. 4 World Health Organization/United Nations Children's Fund/International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (WHO/UNICEF/ICCIDD)Assessment of iodine deficiency disorders and monitoring their elimination. A guide for programme managers. 3rd edition. WHO, Geneva2007 Google Scholar Adequate iodine nutrition in the general population is shown by a median urinary iodine concentration for school-age children (aged 6–12 years) of 100–299 μg/L. 4 World Health Organization/United Nations Children's Fund/International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (WHO/UNICEF/ICCIDD)Assessment of iodine deficiency disorders and monitoring their elimination. A guide for programme managers. 3rd edition. WHO, Geneva2007 Google Scholar Despite calls to monitor and eliminate Iodine deficiency, during the past decade, compared with other WHO regions, Europe has had the highest percentage of iodine-deficient school-age children, 3 Iodine Global Network http://www.ign.org Google Scholar despite its wealth and its high standards of health care. In 2015, in the WHO European region, only 47·9 million (66%) of the region's 72·1 million school-age children have adequate iodine intakes. 3 Iodine Global Network http://www.ign.org Google Scholar