Iodine deficiency remains an important global public health concern. Although iodized salt is the primary strategy for iodine deficiency prevention, its effectiveness depends on adequate iodine concentrations in commercially available products. However, laboratory data on the iodine content of retail salt products in Hungary are currently lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the iodine concentration of commercially available iodized table salts in Hungary and to assess their compliance with the WHO-recommended range of 20-40 ppm. Twenty different brands of iodized table salt were purchased from major retail outlets in Pécs, Hungary, representing the dominant food retail sector. According to product labels, ten salts were fortified with potassium iodate (KIO3) and ten with potassium iodide (KI). Iodine concentrations were determined by iodometric titration following WHO-recommended laboratory methods. All measurements were performed in triplicate and expressed as mean values. In addition, a small exploratory wholesale micro-survey examined purchasing patterns of iodized and non-iodized salt in the regional supply chain. Measured iodine concentrations varied substantially among products, ranging from 0 to 33.9 ppm. Overall, 65% of the analyzed salt samples contained less than 20 ppm iodine, while only 35% fell within the WHO-recommended range of 20-40 ppm. Notably, several products declared iodine concentrations below recommended levels on their labels. The wholesale micro-survey showed that ten times more iodized than non-iodized salt was ordered during the observation period. These results suggest that the presence of iodized salt on the market does not necessarily guarantee adequate iodine supply and highlight the potential relevance of considering iodine status during the differential diagnosis of hypothyroidism.

Iodine is a component of thyroid hormones and essential for neurological development. Objective: to evaluate the iodine nutritional status of pregnant women residing in Veneto and the possible role of thyroglobulin (Tg) as a proxy.528 pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy were consecutively enrolled in this cross-sectional study, and were asked to provide an early-morning spot urine sample (for UI/Creat) and a blood sample (for thyroid function and Tg). They also completed a questionnaire. Infant anthropometric data at birth were obtained.Median UI/Creat was 112.8 μg/g. 34.1% of women had a UI/Creat ≥150 μg/g. Iodized salt (IS) was used by 76.9% of women, iodine containing supplements (ICS) by 74.2%, and cow's milk was regularly consumed by 46.0%. At multivariable analysis, regular cow's milk consumption and ICS use were significant predictors of UI/Creat ≥150 μg/g (odds ratio (OR) 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-2.32, and OR: 2.83, 95% CI: 1.66-4.82, respectively). The median Tg value was lower among the iodine-sufficient than among the iodine-deficient women (P = 0.005). At multiple linear regression analysis, Tg was among the factors associated with weight (β = -81.83, P <0.001) and length (β = -0.3, P <0.01) at birth, although weakly. Tg was a factor associated with pre-term delivery (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.20-1.92).Regular use of cow's milk and ICS were factors associated with UI/Creat ≥150 μg/g. Tg was associated with iodine status and pregnancy outcomes, although it had only a modest discriminative ability for sufficiency.

Iodine intake in adults: Sociodemographic and dietary determinants from a National Health survey.

Background: Adequate iodine intake during pregnancy is essential for optimal maternal thyroid function and fetal neurodevelopment. Although universal salt iodization has been implemented in Turkey, pregnant women may remain vulnerable to iodine insufficiency. This study aimed to evaluate maternal thyroid function in relation to iodine status, and to comprehensively compare the diagnostic performance of spot urinary indices and creatinine-adjusted measures against measured 24 h urinary iodine excretion (24h-UIE) in pregnant women. Methods: A total of 227 pregnant women attending family health centers in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, provided both spot urine samples and complete 24 h urine collections. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC), creatinine-corrected UIC (UIC/UCr), and 24h-UIE were measured. Thyroid function tests were interpreted using trimester-specific reference ranges. Correlations between urinary indices were assessed, and ROC analyses were performed using 24h-UIE as the operational reference. A structured questionnaire evaluated iodine-related dietary knowledge and salt-use practices. Results: The median spot UIC was 59.0 µg/L, indicating insufficient recent iodine intake at the population level. Based on 24h-UIE, 70% of participants had excretion levels below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) threshold (<144 µg/day). Spot UIC showed a weak correlation with 24h-UIE (rho = 0.270, p < 0.001), whereas UIC/UCr demonstrated a stronger correlation (rho = 0.491, p < 0.001). In ROC analyses, UIC/UCr yielded a significantly higher AUC than spot UIC (0.774 [95% CI: 0.707-0.841] vs. 0.670 [95% CI: 0.593-0.748]; DeLong p = 0.016). Overt hypothyroidism was not observed; subclinical hypothyroidism was present in 16.3% of participants. While no overall association was found between iodine indices and thyroid status, in the first trimester, those with subclinical hypothyroidism had higher 24h-UIE medians than euthyroid peers (134.2 vs. 100.3 µg/day, p = 0.037), although both groups remained below the EAR threshold. Knowledge regarding iodine-rich foods and iodized salt use was limited among the study population. Conclusions: Iodine insufficiency remains highly prevalent among pregnant women in this region despite salt iodization. While spot UIC alone showed limited agreement with 24h-UIE, creatinine-adjusted UIC may offer improved interpretability under conditions of variable urine dilution. Preserved thyroid function in the presence of iodine insufficiency highlights the silent nature of this condition during pregnancy. Strengthened pregnancy-specific iodine surveillance and targeted antenatal education are warranted.

Universal salt iodization remains insufficient to prevent iodine deficiency without maternal education and improved household salt practices: insights from structural equation modelling in Noakhali

states that the quality of salt at the household level was closely monitored, the article does not present quantitative data regarding the iodine content (titration levels) of the salt actually consumed by the participants.Without correlating the iodine content of the salt directly with the UI levels, attributing the reduction in UI solely to FSSAI compliance remains speculative.Other factors, such as seasonal variability or hydration status during spot sampling, cannot be ruled out.Third, the longitudinal design of study B was interrupted for 6 months due to the Covid-19 lockdown, during which families reverted to purchasing packaged market salt.Although the study restarted in October 2020, this disruption introduces an important confounding variable.It is unclear if the washout period was sufficient to negate the biological variance introduced by the change in salt source during the lockdown.Finally, the sampling strategy involved collecting urine from 'available and willing' family members during morning home visits.This convenience sampling method carries a risk of selection bias, as it may under-represent working family members who are absent during forenoon hours.

Re: Who will regulate the regulator?The article by Ananthakrishnan raises important questions about the direction and philosophy of medical education reform in India. 1 The present moment demands not only a critique of existing regulations but also a clear reimagining of what the Indian medical education system is striving to become.Expansion, faculty shortage, and uneven quality are real concerns, but they are not the symptoms of a deeper absence of educational vision.The conversation must move beyond how many colleges exist or how many teachers are appointed, to a more fundamental question: what kind of physician is being shaped through this process?Medical education today faces a tension between training for employability and nurturing professional identity.The modern medicine system, while continuing to emphasise compliance, increasingly requires adaptability, ethics, teamwork, and the capacity for lifelong learning. 2Therefore, regulation needs to shift its focus from enforcing norms to enabling these capabilities.The expansion of seats and colleges must be matched by a reform in the purpose and structure of training.While the present competency-based medical education (CBME) framework strives to move towards integrated learning, much more remains to be done to ensure a truly longitudinal 'context-based learning' approach that connects learning with patient care, community needs, and the realities of the health system.A second, often-overlooked dimension is the future of teaching and how students shape their identities.Today's educator must be a designer of learning experiences, integrating technology, reflective practice, and interprofessional collaboration.Existing faculty development initiatives, such as the basic and advanced courses in medical education (BCME and ACME), have laid a strong foundation for capacity building.However, these programs often remain episodic and skill-focused.What is now needed is a structured, longitudinal framework that recognises medical education as a scholarly career pathway linking faculty development with mentorship, research productivity, and institutional leadership.Without sustained investment in developing the educator as a professional, educational reforms risk remaining fragmented and short-lived.Equally important is the parallel development of learners within the CBME framework.Beyond competencies, CBME must intentionally nurture students' professional identity formation and sense of belonging within the healthcare community.However, an often-overlooked step is sensitizing students to the very intent of CBME before its implementation.Learners need to appreciate that CBME is not merely a shift in curriculum, assessment, or structure, but a transformation.Early orientation to its goals and multidimensional nature enables students to engage purposefully, understanding what they learn, how they learn, and most important, why they learn.Regulation must also become data-informed and participatory.Instead of relying mainly on inspection reports, periodic publication of outcome data, graduate distribution, community service, research productivity, and learner feedback can create a culture of transparency and accountability.Independent academic audit boards, involving educators, health planners, and community representatives, would lend both legitimacy and diversity to oversight.Finally, the transformation of medical education should not only aim to produce more doctors but also to redefine what it means to be a doctor in contemporary India.

Both insufficient and excessive iodine intake can result in adverse health effects, especially in children. Despite the implementation of universal salt iodization (USI) in Iran, regional variations may persist. This study aimed to assess urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and associated factors among primary school students in Alborz Province. In this cross-sectional study, 228 students aged 7-11 years (118 girls and 110 boys) were selected from 48 urban and rural schools in Alborz Province through multistage cluster sampling. Spot urine samples were collected to measure UIC using the modified Sandell-Kolthoff method. The iodine content of household salt was also analyzed. A 24-hour dietary recall assessed recent food intake, and structured questionnaires evaluated household iodized salt use and storage practices. Out of 228 children (mean age: 8.81 ± 0.07 years; 52% girls), the median UIC was 190.0µg/L (IQR: 130.0-280.0). A total of 19.6% of participants had UIC < 100µg/L, while 14.0% had UIC ≥ 300µg/L. The mean iodine content of household salt was 35.86 ± 1.06 ppm; 12.4% of samples had iodine levels below 20 ppm, and 46.7% exceeded 40 ppm. Children in households using salt with < 20 ppm iodine had significantly higher odds of UIC < 100µg/L (AOR: 3.42; 95% CI: 1.42-8.22; p = 0.006). In contrast, adding salt at the end of cooking was associated with lower odds of iodine deficiency (AOR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.20-0.85; p = 0.017). No notable associations were observed for sociodemographic or dietary variables. Both iodine deficiency and excess were observed among school-aged children in Alborz. Iodine status was linked to household salt iodine content and the timing of salt addition during cooking, while no significant associations were found with sociodemographic or dietary factors.

Background: In Abarkouh, despite Iran's national iodine sufficiency, the stability of iodine levels in salt and the influence of demographic factors on IDD risk in this specific population have not been thoroughly assessed. This study aims to determine the quantitative relationships between urinary iodine concentration (UIC), the prevalence of goiter, and behavioral disorders as a consequence of height, weight, and salt iodine concentration. Methods: The urinary and salt iodine concentrations were measured using the Chlorometric method and iodine detector kit, respectively. The differences between the two groups and the relationship between these variables and endpoints were determined using t-test and Pearson correlation with a significance level of 0.05, respectively. Quantitative relationships between them were also modeled using linear and nonlinear models’ artificial neural network (ANN) in MATLAB2020. Results: According to the results and linear modeling, iodine concentration and behavioral disorders based on variables of height, weight, and iodine salt concentration were randomly distributed. Also, limited nonlinear relationships between UIC and variables of height, weight, salt iodine concentration and behavioral disorders were obtained as a consequence of variables of height, weight, salt iodine concentration, and urinary output in ANN (R&lt;0.7). Conclusion: Modeling the relationship between these variables using ANN showed there were limited nonlinear relationships between urinary iodine and variables of height, weight, and iodine salt concentration. Thus, to determine the effective factors and the quantitative relationship between them, it is suggested to study other variables in future studies.

Excessive salt intake (ESI) is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide. Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), united by shared historical, cultural, and culinary traditions, face this problem on a particularly significant scale. Aim. To summarize data on the prevalence of ESI in the CIS countries, analyze its causes, and present the countries' experiences in implementing measures to limit salt consumption at the population level. Material and methods. We analyzed available literature and surveyed experts from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan as part of the working group "Health Economics and Population Prevention" of the CIS Basic Organization in Internal and Preventive Medicine. The experts provided detailed answers to questions about the level and sources of salt consumption, regional variability, iodized salt use, and current population-based measures. Results. Average 24-hour salt consumption in the CIS countries is 2-3,5 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended safe level (5 g/day), ranging from 9,8 g/day in Armenia to 17,8 g/day in Kazakhstan. The main dietary sources of salt are bread, processed meat and dairy products, national dishes, and beverages. The key ESI causes are ingrained cultural and culinary traditions and the lack of comprehensive regulatory frameworks. Mandatory universal salt iodization is enshrined in law only in some CIS countries (Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan). Measures to reduce excess salt consumption in the region are fragmented and primarily limited to information campaigns. There is a lack of mandatory labeling, legal restrictions on salt content in products, and advertising. Conclusion. CIS countries face a similar, significant problem of excess salt consumption, requiring coordinated action. The most effective approach is the implementation of comprehensive national strategies combining legislative, regulatory, and educational measures. Reducing excess salt intake is recognized as a high-return investment in public health. To achieve greater impact, coordinated actions are needed across international platforms, such as the CIS and the Eurasian Economic Union.

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) remain a public health concern, especially in pregnancy, despite universal salt iodization (USI) programs. Iran has sustained iodine sufficiency since the 1990s through national USI, but recent evidence suggests recurrent iodine insufficiency among pregnant women. This study reports findings from the sixth National Monitoring Survey (2022-2023) to reassess iodine status in schoolchildren and pregnant women in Iran. This cross-sectional survey included 11,221 schoolchildren aged 8-10 years and 2929 pregnant women from all 31 provinces. Multistage cluster sampling ensured national representativeness for children. At the same time, pregnant women were recruited from health centers by equal provincial quotas (60 per province, not population-weighted), and their individual intake of iodide along with folic acid supplements was documented. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was measured using the Sandell-Kolthoff method, and salt iodine content was assessed by iodometric titration at production and household levels. Data were analyzed with descriptive and nonparametric statistical methods. The median UIC in schoolchildren was 133 µg/L (interquartile range [IQR]: 88-183), within the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended range, with 67.7% having UIC ≥100 µg/L. However, 22.8% had a UIC of 50-100 µg/L and 9.5% <50 µg/L. In pregnant women, the median UIC was 128 µg/L (IQR: 84-187), below the WHO threshold of 150 µg/L, with 61.2% having UIC <150 µg/L and 34.4% <100 µg/L. 73.7% of pregnant women used iodide + folic acid supplement, with wide provincial variation of 38-84%. Household salt median iodine content was 32 ppm, but 30.6% of samples were <20 ppm, and only 54% were stored properly. Production-level salt had a median iodine content of 33.8 ppm. Although Iran has maintained iodine sufficiency in the general population during the last three decades, mild iodine deficiency has reappeared among pregnant women due to incomplete usage of iodide folic acid supplementation. Strengthened monitoring, stricter quality assurance in salt production, improved adherence to iodine supplementation in pregnant women, and targeted provincial interventions are needed to sustain IDD elimination.

Background: Goitre remains a high-signal global health indicator of thyroid dysfunction and population-level iodine status. Despite progress in salt iodization, early-stage thyroid enlargement is frequently under-detected in routine practice, especially when physical examination is confounded by body habitus and clinician subjectivity. Ultrasound is the preferred modality for early assessment, but interpretation is operator-dependent and increasingly burdened by rising thyroid nodule prevalence. Objective: This review synthesizes evidence on Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods for predicting thyroid dysfunction and diagnosing early goitre (WHO Grade 1), with a practical emphasis on multi-modal “holistic AI” systems that combine tabular laboratory markers with imaging features. Methods: We summarize (i) supervised learning pipelines for structured clinical data (e.g., age, sex, TSH, T3, T4, T4U/FTI), (ii) deep learning architectures for ultrasound-based detection and segmentation (CNNs, U-Net variants, Vision Transformers), and (iii) deployment considerations including explainability, bias control, and reproducible benchmarking using open datasets. Following common clinical ML reporting practice, we emphasize confusion-matrixbased evaluation (precision/recall/F1/MCC) and strong ensemble baselines for tabular prediction. [30,31] Results: For tabular prediction tasks, stacked ensembles and gradient-boosted trees repeatedly rank among the best-performing approaches, particularly when combined with careful feature engineering and imbalance mitigation. For imaging, segmentation-first pipelines that estimate thyroid volume (e.g., U-Net family) and classification models leveraging multi-channel inputs or self-attention mechanisms (e.g., ViTs) report high diagnostic performance in differentiating benign enlargement from suspicious nodular patterns. Emerging smartphone-assisted workflows and LLM-based clinical summarization show promise for low-resource settings but require rigorous validation. Conclusion: AI can shift goitre management from late-stage detection to proactive screening by improving sensitivity for occult Grade 1 enlargement, standardizing ultrasound interpretation, and reducing unnecessary invasive procedures. Clinical adoption, however, depends on transparent explainability, external validation across diverse cohorts, and governance aligned with high-risk medical AI standards.

Iodine deficiency is now a significant public-health concern in the UK. Data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS; 2019-2023) shows that several population groups are now classified as mildly iodine deficient, including women of childbearing age. This is a change from previous NDNS data where these groups were iodine sufficient. As iodine is needed for thyroid-hormone production, which are essential for brain development, iodine deficiency prior to, and during, pregnancy may have implications for child cognition - including lower IQ. However, the evidence base for the health effects of mild deficiency is not as strong as in severe deficiency. The WHO recommends salt iodisation to control iodine deficiency in a population, but such a policy was never introduced in the UK and iodised salt is not widely available. While UK milk is rich in iodine and is the principal source, the rise in popularity of plant-based milk alternatives may increase the risk of iodine deficiency. It may be necessary to give personalised advice to those with low iodine intake, but identify those at risk is challenging owing to a lack of a biomarker for iodine in an individual. Population-wide approaches may be required in the UK - for example, fortification of bread with iodised salt or mandatory iodine fortification of plant-based dairy alternatives. This review will critically discuss (i) the data on iodine deficiency in the UK (ii) the evidence base for the health implications of mild deficiency and (iii) the potential public-health solutions.

Enhancing iodine delivery through sourdough wheat bread: influence of biofortified flour and iodized salt on iodine concentration and bioaccessibility.

Milk, dairy products, and certain marine foods are important dietary sources of iodine for humans. However, iodine intake is strongly influenced by dietary habits, local food availability, and iodine fortification policies, and ensuring adequate iodine intake remains a challenge in populations with low consumption of dairy products or seafood or in regions where salt iodization is limited. Under these circumstances, iodine-biofortified vegetables may serve as an important dietary source of iodine, and fertilization is an effective strategy to enhance their iodine content. In this study, using lettuce as a test crop, we conducted experiments over two growing seasons to evaluate an improved iodinated copper-based foliar fertilizer derived from traditional Bordeaux mixture (BDM), with treatments differing in iodine form and concentration. The results showed that the iodinated copper-based foliar fertilizers reduced copper concentrations in shoots and roots by 57.6%–91.57% and 61.56%–91.24%, respectively, compared with BDM, thereby reducing copper accumulation in plants and the potential risk of soil contamination. Compared with deionized water (CK), iodine application with copper-based fertilizers significantly increased iodine levels in lettuce tissues. Application of 1 g/L and 2 g/L KI copper-based foliar fertilizer increased shoot iodine content by 99.91% and 191.95%, respectively, and root iodine content by 180.66% and 211.41%, respectively. In another growing season, shoot iodine content increased by 24.71- to 66.20-fold, while root iodine content increased by 1.52- to 2.50-fold. In terms of quality, 1 g/L KI copper-based foliar fertilization increased vitamin C content by 33.19%, whereas 2 g/L reduced nitrate content by 39.08%; soluble sugar content increased by 34.41% and 39.27%. However, high iodine concentrations exerted a suppressive effect on yield, with high-concentration iodine treatments consistently reducing yield by approximately 13.85%–35.84% relative to CK across the two growing seasons. Overall, iodinated copper-based foliar fertilization effectively enhanced iodine enrichment in lettuce while simultaneously reducing copper accumulation, suggesting its potential as a safer alternative to traditional BDM for iodine biofortification. Among the tested treatments, 2 g/L KI copper-based foliar fertilization produced the greatest improvements in iodine enrichment and quality traits, although this was accompanied by a reduction in yield, indicating that the trade-off between nutritional enhancement and yield penalty should be carefully considered when determining the optimal application rate.

Iodine is a vital micronutrient that underpins thyroid hormone synthesis, affecting myriad physiological processes that extend well beyond basic metabolism. In athletes, an optimal level of thyroid hormones particularly triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) is integral to energy production, thermoregulation, macronutrient metabolism, and muscle recovery. Despite well-publicized global efforts to reduce iodine deficiency through measures such as salt iodization, suboptimal iodine status still persists, including in populations that might be assumed healthy and nutritionally aware. Athletes are especially vulnerable due to higher nutrient turnover, specialized diets, and additional micronutrient losses through sweat. Even marginal deficiencies can attenuate the benefits of training and potentially impair athletic performance, manifesting as increased fatigue, reduced aerobic capacity, or prolonged recovery intervals.The purpose of this review is to present a comprehensive examination of the nexus between iodine and thyroid function, with particular emphasis on the metabolic and performance implications for athletes. We begin by outlining key aspects of iodine physiology, tracing the pathway from dietary intake through the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) and culminating in the synthesis of T3 and T4 within the thyroid gland. Next, we examine the mechanisms of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis and highlight how even subtle imbalances in iodine intake may provoke disruptions in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), leading to subclinical or overt hypothyroidism.Empirical findings on the influence of exercise on iodine turnover and thyroid hormone dynamics receive close attention, revealing a bidirectional relationship wherein high-intensity or high-volume training can alter thyroid homeostasis, while inadequate iodine status exacerbates performance deficits. The review further explores typical dietary sources of iodine, recommended intake levels for adult populations, and the ways in which these guidelines may need to be adjusted for athletes with elevated needs. Strategies for supplementation are presented alongside cautions regarding excessive iodine intake, which can lead to hyperthyroidism, thyroid autoimmunity, or goiter.By synthesizing evidence from clinical, epidemiological, and performance-based research, this review underscores how iodine sufficiency is critical for maximizing metabolic efficiency and physical potential. Coaches, athletes, and sports health professionals are therefore urged to incorporate monitoring of iodine status alongside other key micronutrients into comprehensive nutrition and training programs designed to foster peak performance over the long term.

Iodine is a vital micronutrient necessary for thyroid hormone synthesis, growth, and neurodevelopment. Universal salt iodization was implemented globally, including in Nepal, to address the burden of iodine deficiency diseases. Despite the success, iodine loss from iodized salt due to temperature and storage practices remains an issue. The aim of this study was to determine iodine content in commercially available “Aayo Nun” two‐child logo (2CL) iodized salt and to assess its iodine stability with regard to temperature influence. Laboratory analyses were conducted between October 2021 and June 2023 at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, using iodometric titration. The series of 10 salt samples of different manufacturing dates were tested under three temperature conditions: ambient temperature, 100°C (heated solution), and 150°C (oven‐roasted). In addition, mean iodine concentration at room temperature was found to be 67.24 ± 0.22 ppm, which was within the WHO‐accepted and national standard limit (50–60 ppm). Heating led to significant iodine losses of 12.96 % ± 0.22 % at 100°C and 18.73 % ± 0.45 % at 150°C, indicating temperature‐dependent volatilization. These results, therefore, confirm that while iodization at the time of production is sufficient for a USI program in Nepal, actual dietary intake would be below this value because of iodine loss during cooking. Public awareness on adding iodized salt at the end stage of food preparation could help. Continuous monitoring of iodine stability in salt and implementation of educational campaigns promoting appropriate salt‐handling practices can be suggested for optimal iodine nutrition and prevention of both deficiency and excess.

Introduction: Iodine plays a vital role in human growth and development. Iodine deficiency remains a significant public health issue worldwide. Although India has implemented universal salt iodization, inadequate iodine intake may still occur due to poor storage and handling practices at the household level. Objectives: To estimate the iodine content in household salt, examine its association with storage and usage practices, and assess awareness about iodized salt among women of reproductive age. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2015 and September 2017 in 15 villages of Udupi Taluk, Karnataka, India. Using stratified sampling, 1,200 households were selected. Information on salt storage and usage was gathered through interviews. Salt samples were tested on-site using spot iodine testing kits. Awareness was assessed among 1,478 women of reproductive age. Results: All households reported using iodized salt, and 96 had salt with adequate iodine levels (15 ppm). Inadequate iodine content was significantly associated with exposure to heat (pConclusion: While the use of iodized salt was nearly universal, improper storage practices compromised iodine retention. Public health efforts should focus on promoting proper storage at the household level and strengthening quality assurance in salt distribution systems to ensure consistent iodine intake across the population.

Iodine deficiency remains one of the most significant yet preventable causes of neurodevelopment impairment worldwide. Despite decades of public health intervention, particularly through universal salt iodization (USI), iodine deficiency continues to affect vulnerable population especially pregnant women and young children. This review examines the relationship between iodine deficiency and cognitive development in children, the critical iodine requirements during pregnancy and lactation, and assesses the global impact and challenges of iodine supplementation programs. By synthesizing findings from epidemiological studies, clinical trials, and global surveillance data, this article highlights the urgent need for sustained policy enforcement, nutritional education, and targeted supplementation strategies. Addressing iodine deficiency is not only essential for individual health outcomes but also crucial for the cognitive development and socioeconomic growth of nations.

Iodine deficiency is a major public health issue in underdeveloped nations, including Pakistan. A cross sectional research was conducted in Buner district of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KPK) to measure the status of iodine of school going children in three diverse ethnic groups. 150 children between the ages of 6 and 12 were preferred randomly for this study. Comprising 50 children from each ethnic group i.e., Sikh, Hindu and Muslims with the inclusion criteria that they should be free from any chronic disease and not using any iodine supplements. Data on socio demographic, anthropometric and dietary intake was recorded from the children on the pre-designed questionnaire. The iodine status was determined by measuring urinary iodine excretion (UIE). Salt iodine content was measured by using rapid test kit. Palpation method was used for goiter status assessment. Study results showed that UIE of Hindu children was significantly (p&lt;0.05) lower than Muslim and Sikh group. Iodine content in salt of Hindu group was lower than both groups where the highest iodine content in salt was assessed in Muslim group. The goiter status was non-significantly (p&gt;0.05) different in all three groups. The iodine content in salt and dietary iodine was significantly (p &lt; 0.05) correlated with Urinary iodine excretion of Muslim group and was non-significantly (p&gt;0.05) positively correlated with Sikh and Hindu groups. This study concluded that ethnicity is also an associated factor in iodine level of the people through influencing the dietary intake of iodine rich food, iodize salt consumption. Therefore, should be considered in the planning for eradication of iodine insufficiency disorders.