Abstract
Previous studies have documented mild to moderate iodine deficiency in pregnant and lactating women in Norway. This study focused on non-pregnant young women because their future children may be susceptible to the adverse effects of iodine deficiency. We assessed urinary iodine concentration (UIC), iodine intake from food and supplements, and iodine knowledge in 403 non-pregnant women, mainly students, aged 18–30 years. Iodine concentration was measured in spot urine samples analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and iodine intake was calculated from a self-reported food frequency questionnaire. Knowledge about iodine was collected through the self-administered, paper-based questionnaire. Median (p25–p75) UIC was 75 (42–130) µg/L and 31% had UIC < 50 µg/L. Habitual iodine intake was 100 (69–136) µg/day. In multiple regression models, supplemental iodine, use of thyroid medication, and iodine intake from food were positively associated with UIC, while vegetarian practice was negatively associated, explaining 16% of the variance. Approximately 40% of the young women had low iodine knowledge score and no differences were found between women in different study programs. Young women in Norway are mild to moderately iodine-deficient, and public health strategies are needed to improve and secure adequate iodine status.
Highlights
Iodine deficiency has substantial effects on growth and development and is the most common cause of preventable mental impairment worldwide [1,2]
Norwegian women have insufficient iodine intake. This finding is in accordance with research published during the last 5 years which consistently documents mild to moderate iodine deficiency in different population groups in Norway [8,12,14,15,17,29,30]
In a previous study in Norway assessing iodine status in population groups based on age and dietary practice, we found a median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of 71 μg/L in 51 non-pregnant women of childbearing age (18–45 years old) [15]
Summary
Iodine deficiency has substantial effects on growth and development and is the most common cause of preventable mental impairment worldwide [1,2]. Maternal thyroxine is crucial for maturation of the fetal nervous system, especially for the development of the fetal thyroid before. 18–20 weeks of pregnancy [3,4], and even mild to moderate iodine deficiency could be harmful [5,6,7,8,9]. As sufficient supply of maternal thyroid hormones are crucial in early gestation, iodine deficiency should be corrected pre-pregnancy [10]. Mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency occurs in areas that have not previously been recognized as iodine-deficient; 45% of the population of continental. Europe shows evidence of iodine deficiency [11]. Recent studies have documented suboptimal iodine status in pregnant women [8,12,13], lactating women [14], elderly [15], vegans [15], and non-pregnant women of childbearing age [15,16]
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