Iodine status worldwide: WHO Global Database on Iodine Deficiency
de Benoist B, Andersson M, Egli I, Takkouche B, Allen H
Published in World Health Organization
Abstract
Global assessment of iodine status across 130 countries. Iodine deficiency remains significant public health problem affecting 2 billion people worldwide, including 30% in developed countries. Mild deficiency often overlooked despite cognitive and thyroid impacts. Universal salt iodization most effective public health intervention but requires monitoring. Pregnant women and children most vulnerable.
Methodology
World Health Organization global database compiling national surveys of urinary iodine concentration and goitre prevalence across more than 120 countries.
Key Findings
Iodine deficiency remained a widespread public health problem, affecting roughly two billion people including populations in industrialised countries. Universal salt iodisation was identified as the single most effective intervention, but coverage and monitoring were uneven. Pregnant women and young children were the most vulnerable groups.
Conclusions
Population-level salt iodisation with ongoing surveillance is the primary strategy for eliminating iodine deficiency disorders; individual supplementation is chiefly relevant for pregnancy and lactation.
Limitations
Aggregated surveillance data of varying national quality, cross-sectional design, and now dated relative to more recent iodine status surveys; urinary iodine reflects population rather than individual status.
Supplements Studied
Iodine deficiency remained a widespread public health problem, affecting roughly two billion people including populations in industrialised countries. Universal salt iodisation was identified as the single most effective intervention, but coverage and monitoring were uneven. Pregnant women and young children were the most vulnerable groups.
Study Details
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Disclosures
Funding
World Health Organization
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