Changing trends in the global, regional, and national burden of iodine deficiency among adolescents and young adults: population-based study.

Iodine is a micronutrient required for the production of thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism, growth, and neurodevelopment. Iodine deficiency among adolescents and young adults is a major global health issue. We analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 database to calculate the prevalence, incidence, and disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) rates of iodine deficiency among adolescents and young adults. We explored the specific year with the most substantial changes in the trends of iodine deficiency among adolescents with annual percentage change (APC) by Joinpoint Regression analysis. Descriptive analyses were conducted to characterize the iodine deficiency burden according to age, sex, location, and sociodemographic index (SDI) quintiles. All measures are listed with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), and all rates are reported per 100,000 individuals. From 1990 to 2019, the iodine deficiency prevalence rate among adolescents decreased from 3082.43 (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 2473.01-3855.86) to 2190.84 (95% [UI], 1729.18-2776.16) per 100,000 population, with an AAPC of -1.15 (95% confidence interval [CI], -1.29 to -1.02). Regarding the SDI in 2019, the highest prevalence and DALY rates of iodine deficiency were reported in low-SDI countries. In 1990, Southeast Asia had the highest prevalence and DALYs rates for iodine deficiency among adolescents, while in 2019, Africa had the highest prevalence rate (3330.12). CONCLUSION: Globally, the iodine deficiency burden among adolescents has substantially decreased since 1990; however, low-SDI countries still bear a great burden. Implementation measures and monitoring systems should be strengthened to reduce the iodine deficiency burden, especially among adolescents. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Iodine deficiency can cause severe or irreversible developmental disorders, particularly in adolescents and young adults. • Universal Salt Iodization was implemented for ensuring appropriate iodine intake. WHAT IS NEW: • We found substantial declines in the prevalence rates of iodine deficiency among adolescents during the past three decades. Globally, the disability-adjusted life-year rate of iodine deficiency among adolescents decreased from 56.17 in 1990 to 35.38 in 2019. • Iodine deficiency among adolescents in low- sociodemographic index countries still bear a great burden.

Do Brassica Vegetables Affect Thyroid Function?-A Comprehensive Systematic Review.

Brassica vegetables are widely consumed all over the world, especially in North America, Asia, and Europe. They are a rich source of sulfur compounds, such as glucosinolates (GLSs) and isothiocyanates (ITCs), which provide health benefits but are also suspected of having a goitrogenic effect. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review to assess the impact of dietary interventions on thyroid function, in terms of the potential risk for people with thyroid dysfunctions. We analyzed the results of 123 articles of in vitro, animal, and human studies, describing the impact of brassica plants and extracts on thyroid mass and histology, blood levels of TSH, T3, T4, iodine uptake, and the effect on thyroid cancer cells. We also presented the mechanisms of the goitrogenic potential of GLSs and ITCs, the limitations of the studies included, as well as further research directions. The vast majority of the results cast doubt on previous assumptions claiming that brassica plants have antithyroid effects in humans. Instead, they indicate that including brassica vegetables in the daily diet, particularly when accompanied by adequate iodine intake, poses no adverse effects on thyroid function.

Prevalence of high neonatal thyroid stimulating hormone levels as an indicator of iodine deficiency in the province of La Pampa: An epidemiological analysis. / Prevalencia de hipertirotropinemia neonatal como indicador de deficiencia de yodo en la provincia de La Pampa: un análisis epidemiológico.

Introduction. Iodine plays a key role in human metabolism, growth, and development. During pregnancy and childhood, the demand for this micronutrient increases notably. Increased neonatal thyroid stimulating hormone (nTSH) levels, defined as nTSH ≥ 5 mIU/L, are a marker of iodine deficiency in a population if its prevalence is higher than 3%. Objective. To establish the prevalence of nTSH ≥ 5 in La Pampa in the 2021-2022 period, analyze its correlation with different variables, and compare it with data from a historical cohort. Population and methods. Cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study in a population of newborn infants born in the 5 health regions of the province of La Pampa in 2021 and 2022. Results. Of the 5778 assessed newborn infants, 9.6% had nTSH levels ≥ 5 mIU/L. It was reported that 70.4% of these measurements were done after the third day of life. No significant differences were observed in the frequency of high nTSH levels by year of birth, birth weight, or days until sample collection. A higher prevalence was observed among male infants (10.6% versus 8.5%; p = 0.007) and term infants (9.8% versus 6.6%; p = 0.02). The prevalence of high TSH levels was superior to that observed in the 2001-2002 cohort. Conclusions. The prevalence of high nTSH levels in La Pampa during 2021 and 2022 was 9.6%, suggesting the presence of mild iodine deficiency in the population of this province, higher that what had been reported 2 decades ago.

Introducción. El yodo desempeña un rol fundamental en el metabolismo, el crecimiento y el desarrollo humano. Durante el embarazo y la infancia, la demanda de este micronutriente aumenta considerablemente. La tirotropinemia neonatal (TSHn) aumentada, definida como TSHn ≥5 mUI/l, es un marcador que señala la deficiencia de yodo en una población cuando su prevalencia supera el 3 %. Objetivo. Determinar la prevalencia de TSHn ≥ 5 en La Pampa durante el período 2021-2022, analizar su correlación con diferentes variables y compararla con datos de una cohorte histórica. Población y métodos. Estudio transversal, de diseño descriptivo-analítico, sobre una población de neonatos nacidos en las cinco zonas sanitarias de la provincia de La Pampa durante los años 2021 y 2022. Resultados. De los 5778 neonatos evaluados, el 9,6 % presentó niveles de TSHn ≥5 mUI/l. El 70,4 % de estas mediciones fueron realizadas después del tercer día de vida. No se observaron diferencias significativas en la frecuencia de niveles elevados de TSHn según el año de nacimiento, peso al nacer o días hasta la extracción. Se registró una mayor prevalencia en el sexo masculino (10,6 % versus 8,5 %; p = 0,007) y entre los neonatos nacidos a término (9,8 % versus 6,6 %; p = 0,02). La prevalencia de hipertirotropinemia fue superior a la observada en una cohorte de 2001-2002. Conclusiones. La prevalencia de hipertirotropinemia neonatal en La Pampa durante los años 2021 y 2022 fue del 9,6 %, lo que indica un estado de deficiencia leve de yodo en la provincia, superior al reportado hace dos décadas.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Iodized Salt Among Adults Aged 18 to 65 in the United Arab Emirates.

BACKGROUND: Iodine plays a big role in growth and development and is used in the synthesis of thyroid hormones that regulate body organ functions. Its most important source is iodized salt. Iodine deficiency impairs cognitive development and precipitates many thyroid diseases. AIM: The purpose of our study is to measure the knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards iodized salt in adults aged 18-65 years in the United Arab Emirates. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that included 406 participants. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed in public places across the Emirates. The survey included the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants with questions related to knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards iodized salt. A knowledge score out of 13 was calculated. Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and Independent T-tests were used for analysis on the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, IBM Corp., Version 22.0, Armonk, NY), with a p-value less than 5% considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Out of the 406 respondents, 60% (n=246) were between the ages of 18-34 years and 71% (n=287) were at university level. The mean knowledge score was higher in participants with higher educational levels compared to participants with lower education levels (4.30 vs 2.63, respectively) and in older ages (35-65 years) compared to younger ages (18-34 years) (4.20 vs 3.59, respectively). Almost half of the participants buy iodized salt (48%, n=196), a minority buy non-iodized salt (14%, n=55), and the rest do not know what type of salt they buy. Most of the participants who use iodized salt store it in a closed container and do not expose it to sunlight. CONCLUSION: Knowledge about iodized salt is relatively low. Less than half of the participants use it, while most of the participants who use iodized salt follow the right storage recommendations. Our study suggests the implementation of public campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of iodized salt and the benefits of using it.

Non-radical activation of persulfate with Bi2O3/BiO1.3I0.4 for efficient degradation of propranolol under visible light.

Non-radical activation of persulfate (PS) by photocatalysts is an effective approach for removing organic pollutants from aqueous environments. In this study, a novel Bi2O3/BiO1.3I0.4 heterojunction was synthesized using a facile solvothermal approach and used for the first time for non-radical activation of PS to degrade propranolol (PRO) in the presence of visible light. The findings found that the degradation rate of PRO in the Bi2O3/BiO1.3I0.4/PS system was significantly increased from 19% to more than 90% within 90 min compared to the Bi2O3/BiO1.3I0.4 system. This indicated that the composite system exerted an excellent synergistic effect between the photocatalyst and the persulfate-based oxygenation. Quenching tests and electron paramagnetic resonance demonstrated that the non-radical pathway with singlet oxygen as the active species played a major role in the photocatalytic process. The existence of photo-generated holes during the reaction could also be directly involved in the oxidation of pollutants. Meanwhile, a possible PRO degradation pathway was also proposed. Furthermore, the impacts of pH, humic acid and common anions on the PRO degradation by the Bi2O3/BiO1.3I0.4/PS were explored, and the system's stability and reusability were also studied. This study exhibits a highly productive catalyst for PS activation via a non-radical pathway and provides a new idea for the degradation of PRO.

Spatial variation in iodine content with relation to soil physicochemical properties in lower Himalayan region.

Topography of a place has a significant impact on soil characteristics that ultimately influence soil iodine levels. Lower Himalayan region (LHR) in Pakistan has a wide range of climatic and geological variations. Hence, an investigation was conducted to analyze the iodine concentration and other physicochemical properties of soils in two LHR districts, Haripur and Mansehra. Spatial analysis indicated a decrease in iodine levels in the mountainous regions in comparison to the flat portions of LHR. Soil samples obtained from different locations across Haripur had a stronger affinity for iodine due to variations in solubility and adsorption of iodine to soil clay components, which can be attributed to lower pH, higher organic matter, and a higher cation exchange capacity (CEC). In contrast to the plains of Haripur, elevated locations in the Mansehra district had decreased levels of iodine, along with a higher soil pH and reduced soil organic matter. The soil erosion and depletion of soil micronutrients in the hilly region of Mansehra may be attributed to the unfavorable soil conditions and excessive precipitation. Presence of clay, iron (Fe), and aluminum (Al) in the soil led to a rise in iodine levels. Iodine concentrations exhibited an inverse relationship with soil acidity. Study revealed a direct correlation between soil iodine levels and their cation exchange capacity (CEC) and clay content. This study aims to gather fundamental data for the chosen regions of LHR to address illnesses caused by iodine deficiency.

Environmental iodine as a natural iodine intake in humans and environmental pollution index: a scientometric and updated mini review.

Although almost a third of the world's population is exposed to iodine deficiency (ID), and supplementation programs such as enriching table salt have been carried out or are being carried out at the global and national level, in many regions of the world, people are facing an increase in iodine intake, which is mainly due to the presence of large amounts of iodine in water, soil, agricultural products, or high consumption of seafood. Published articles were indexed in the Scopus database (from 2000 to 1 April 2023) were reviewed and analyzed by VOSviewer software. The results showed the growing interest of researchers over the last 20 years in environmental iodine intake. The results of this study can have a significant impact on the planning and policy-making of relevant officials and communities to supply the needed iodine.

Iodine Status in Cyprus and Neighboring Countries: A Review Article.

Despite the implementation of global iodine supplementation initiatives in the past decade, the problem of iodine deficiency persists as a significant public health concern in numerous countries. Although cretinism is now rare in developed countries, iodine deficiency can still lead to less severe cognitive deficits, which can negatively impact academic achievement, intellectual capacity, and work productivity. There is a scarcity of studies regarding the status of Cyprus, and the global database does not have any information pertaining to the prevalence of iodine deficiency in Cyprus. The geographical setting of the research is of importance as it pertains to the separation of Cyprus into two distinct areas. One region is predominantly inhabited by Greek Cypriots, where the practice of salt iodization is not mandatory. Conversely, the other region is primarily inhabited by Turkish Cypriots, who may potentially experience higher amounts of iodine contact due to their reliance on food imports from Turkey, where salt-iodisation is compulsory. The main objective of this study is to provide an overview of recent research conducted on the prevalence of iodine deficiency in Cyprus and neighboring Mediterranean nations. In this study, we assess the current method and subsequently offer public health recommendations for future research endeavors.

Iodine Intake Trends in United States Girls and Women between 2011 and 2020.

BACKGROUND: Usual intakes of iodine in United States girls and women, including pregnant and lactating women have not been adequately studied. Adequate intake of iodine is critical for neurodevelopment of girls, thyroid functions, and reproductive health of women. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the adequacy and trends of iodine intake of United States girls and women between 2011 and 2020. METHODS: We mapped the sources of United States girls and women's iodine intake from the 29 food groups between 2011 and 2020 using United States Department of Agriculture's iodine data release 2. The total food intakes from 2 d of dietary recall of the United States National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey and estimated iodine concentrations of the food groups were used to calculate the usual iodine intakes of female participants. Trends of usual intakes, urinary iodine concentrations (UIC), and estimated intake adequacy were calculated. RESULTS: Median usual intakes of iodine estimated from diet and supplements and UIC of United States girls and nonpregnant, nonlactating women declined between 2011 and 2020 in all 3 age groups: ≤14 y, 15-49 y old, and ≥50 y. Median usual intakes of iodine for pregnant and lactating United States women declined as well. Inadequacy levels of usual iodine intake were 9.9% for nonpregnant, nonlactating women of reproductive age 15-49 y old, 40.3% for lactating, and 10.2% for pregnant women in the 2017-2020 period. Intake insufficiencies estimated from UIC were 48.8%, 63.2%, and 31.3% for nonpregnant, nonlactating women of reproductive age 15-49 y old, pregnant and lactating women, respectively, in the 2017-2020 period. A significant decline in milk consumption might be one of the major contributors to the dietary iodine decline in United States women. CONCLUSIONS: Iodine intake of United States girls and women were on the decline between 2011 and 2020 and the increased inadequacy of iodine intake deserves public health attention.

Iodineminho Study: Iodine Supplementation and Prevalence of Iodine Deficiency in Pregnant Women.

CONTEXT: Iodine is necessary for the proper brain development. The prevalence of iodine deficiency in Portuguese pregnant women led the health authorities, in 2013, to recommend iodine supplementation for women in preconception, throughout pregnancy and during lactation. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of iodine supplementation initiated in the preconception or the first trimester of pregnancy on the prevalence of iodine deficiency and maternal thyroid status. METHODS: An observational prospective cohort study that follows thyroid function and iodine status of women recruited in preconception or in the first trimester of pregnancy. RESULTS: The median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was significantly higher among women taking iodine supplements (no-supplement group UIC=63µg/L; supplement group UIC =100µg/L, p = 0.002) but still below the levels recommended by the World Health Organization. Only 15% of pregnant women had adequate iodine status and 17% showed UIC < 50 µg/l. There was no influence of whether iodine supplementation started in preconception or in the 1st trimester of gestation (UIC preconception group: 112µg/L vs UIC pregnancy group: 91µg/L, p = 0.569). In the 1st trimester of pregnancy, total thyroxine levels were lower and free triiodothyronine levels were higher in non-supplemented women. Thyroglobulin levels were lower in women who started iodine supplementation in preconception compared to non-supplemented women and women who started iodine supplementation during gestation. CONCLUSION: In the Minho region of Portugal, fertile women have insufficient iodine intake. Additional public health measures are needed since the current recommendations for iodine supplementation for pregnancy are unsatisfactory to achieve an adequate iodine status.

Iodine intake in the Swiss population 100 years after the introduction of iodised salt: a cross-sectional national study in children and pregnant women.

PURPOSE: The Swiss voluntary salt iodisation programme has successfully prevented iodine deficiency for 100 years, but dietary habits are changing and today only one-third of processed foods contain iodised salt. We aimed to monitor the current iodine status in children and pregnant women. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study in children (6-12 years) and pregnant women and measured the urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in spot urine samples. We estimated the iodine intake using UIC and urinary creatinine concentration (UCC) and determined the prevalence of intakes below the average requirement (AR) using the SPADE method. We measured dried blood spot (DBS) thyroglobulin (Tg), TSH and total T4 in pregnant women. RESULTS: The median UIC was 127 µg/L (bootstrapped 95% CI 119, 140, n = 362) in children and 97 µg/L (bootstrapped 95% CI 90, 106, n = 473) in pregnant women. The estimated prevalence of inadequate iodine intake (< 65 µg/day) was 5.4% (bootstrapped 95% CI 0.0, 14.6) in children. Half (47%) of the women consumed iodine-containing multivitamin and mineral supplements (≥ 150 µg/day). Compared to non-users, users had higher median UIC (129 vs. 81 µg/L, P < 0.001), lower prevalence of inadequacy (< 160 µg/day; 0.2 vs. 31%) and lower DBS-Tg (23 vs. 29 µg/L, P < 0.001). All women were euthyroid. CONCLUSIONS: The Swiss diet and current salt fortification provides adequate iodine intake in children, but not in all pregnant women. Iodine supplements cover the dietary gap in pregnancy but are not universally consumed. Therefore, improved use of iodised salt in processed foods is desired to ensure adequate iodine intake in all population groups. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04524013.

Evaluation of the chemical composition and nutritional value of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) biofortified in hydroponics with iodine in the form of iodoquinolines.

Iodine deficiency in the diet creates the need to search for innovative, more sustainable and more effective strategies for enriching food with this microelement. The adopted research hypothesis assumed that the use of organic forms of iodine for supplementation of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), compared to mineral iodine, has a more favorable effect not only on the concentration of iodine, but also on the yield and the content of other chemical components determining its nutritional and health-promoting value. Lettuce was planted in a nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic study in a greenhouse. The following application of iodine compounds (all in 5 µM molar mass equivalents) were tested in the studies: control (without of iodine application); potassium iodate (positive iodine control), 8-hydroxy-7-iodo-5-quinolinesulfonic acid, 5-chloro-7-iodo-8-quinolinol, 5,7-diiodo-8-quinolinol and 4-hydroxy-8-iodo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid. In this work, it was shown for the first time that iodoquinolines can be 1) a source of iodine for plants; 2) they have a biostimulating effect on their yielding and 3) they increase the resistance of crops to stress (due to a significant increase in the level of polyphenolic compounds). Lettuce with the addition of 8-hydroxy-7-iodo-5-quinolinesulfonic acid was characterized by the highest content of iodine, which was 221.7 times higher than in control plants. The weight gain of the whole plant was particularly visible in the case of lettuce enriched with 5-chloro-7-iodo-8-quinolinol and amounted to 26.48% compared to the control. Lettuce biofortified with iodine in the form of iodoquinolines can successfully become part of a sustainable diet based on plant products, which has a low impact on the environment and contributes to the long-term good health of an individual or community. Reducing iodine deficiency through the use of organoiodine compounds can help achieve the sustainability goal of eliminating hidden hunger, improving nutritional status and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Soilless cultivation systems to produce tailored microgreens for specific nutritional needs.

BACKGROUND: The awareness of the importance of following dietary recommendations that meet specific biological requirements related to an individual's health status has significantly increased interest in personalized nutrition. The aim of this research was to test agronomic protocols based on soilless cultivation for providing consumers with new dietary sources of iodine (I), as well as alternative vegetable products to limit dietary potassium (K) intake; proposed cultivation techniques were evaluated according to their suitability to obtain such products without compromising agronomic performance. RESULTS: Two independent experiments, focused on I and K respectively, were conducted in a commercial greenhouse specializing in soilless production. Four different species were cultivated using three distinct concentrations of I (0, 1.5 and 3 mg L-1 ) and K (0, 60 and 120 mg L-1 ). Microgreens grown in I-rich nutrient solution accumulate more I, and the increase is dose-dependent. Compared to unbiofortified microgreens, the treatments with 1.5 and 3 mg L-1 of I resulted in 4.5 and 14 times higher I levels, respectively. Swiss chard has the highest levels of K (14 096 mg kg-1 of FW), followed by rocket, pea and radish. In radish, rocket and Swiss chard, a total reduction of K content in the nutrient solution (0 mg L-1 ) resulted in an average reduction of 45% in K content. CONCLUSION: It is possible to produce I-biofortified microgreens to address I deficiency, and K-reduced microgreens for chronic kidney disease-affected people. Species selection is crucial to customize nutritional profiles according to specific dietary requirements due to substantial mineral content variations across different species. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Prevalence and determinants of goitre among children of South Kordofan state, Sudan, 2021: an urgent need for effective implementation of universal salt iodisation.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of goitre among children aged 6-12 years at South Kordofan state. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional facility-based study. SETTING: The study was conducted in twenty villages of South Kordofan state during a medical mission. PARTICIPANTS: All 575 school-age children (6-12 years) who attended the medical day were examined for clinical assessment of goitre. RESULTS: The prevalence of goitre among children of South Kordofan was 42·8 % (grade 1: 15·7 %, grade 2: 27·1 %). Only 24·2 % of caregivers reported using iodised salt. Mothers working as farmers (OR: 3·209, CI 95 % 1·437, 7·167; P = 0·004) and children of Darforian tribes (OR: 21·799, CI 95 % 2·566, 185·226; P = 0·005) were found to be significantly associated with higher prevalence of goitre among children. This contrasts with children of African tribes, where they were found to have less goitre prevalence (OR: 0·432, CI 95 % 0·213, 0·875; P = 0·02). Iodised salt utilisation (OR = 0·523, CI 95 % 0·320, 0·854; P = 0·01) was found associated with a lower prevalence of goitre. CONCLUSION: Even though National Iodine Deficiency Disorders control programs were initiated in Sudan more than 25 years ago, the prevalence of goitre among children in South Kordofan state was alarming (42·8 %). Efforts to improve access to iodised salt, increase utilisation and raise awareness are urgently needed.

Prevalence of goitre and iodine deficiency among school children (6-12 years) in rural areas of North Karnataka, India: A cross-sectional survey, 2016-19.

Introduction: Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) have remained an unresolved public health problem in India. In this survey, we have estimated the prevalence of IDD among 6-12 years of school children in rural areas of north Karnataka, India and estimated the prevalence of low iodine content (<15 ppm) in salt at the household level and urine iodine excretion in this population. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, we recruited 16,827 children between 6 and 12 years of age through multistage sampling from six districts. Goitre was examined clinically for all children. Household-level salt iodine estimation and urinary iodine estimation were carried out among a subset of the participants. Results: Overall prevalence of goitre was 17.1% (95% CI: 16.5, 17.7). Out of this, 76.7% (n = 2116) had Grade-1 goitre, and 23.7% (n = 656) had Grade-2 goitre. The prevalence of goitre was higher among females (17.9%, vs. male 16.4%, P < 0.05). The prevalence of low iodine content (<15 ppm) in salt was 48.5% (95%CI: 46.7, 50.3). The overall median iodine excretion in urine was 85 µg/L (IQR: 60-150 µg/L). In total, 37.2% (n = 601) had mild iodine deficiency, 5.2% (n = 84) had moderate deficiency, and 10.1% (n = 163) had severe deficiency. All parameters showed high inter- and intradistrict variations. Conclusion: North Karnataka has a high goitre prevalence. Low use of iodized salt can be a major reason for the high prevalence of the condition. Ensuring the availability of iodized salt in this region and periodic surveillance to measure the impact of the programme should be the priority in this region.