Abstract

Background

Adequate iodine nutrition is dependent on ground water content, seafood, and, as many countries use iodized cow fodder, dairy products. In most countries, salt fortification programs are needed to assure adequate iodine intake.

Objectives

The objectives are threefold: 1) to describe the past and present iodine situation in the Nordic countries, 2) to identify important gaps of knowledge, and 3) to highlight differences among the Nordic countries’ iodine biomonitoring and fortification policies.

Design

Historical data are compared with the current situation. The Nordic countries’ strategies to achieve recommended intake and urine iodine levels and their respective success rates are evaluated.

Results

In the past, the iodine situation ranged from excellent in Iceland to widespread goiter and cretinism in large areas of Sweden. The situation was less severe in Norway and Finland. According to a 1960 World Health Organization (WHO) report, there were then no observations of iodine deficiency in Denmark. In Sweden and Finland, the fortification of table salt was introduced 50–75 years ago, and in Norway and Finland, the fortification of cow fodder starting in the 1950s helped improve the population's iodine status due to the high intake of milk. In Denmark, iodine has been added to household salt and salt in bread for the past 15 years. The Nordic countries differ with regard to regulations and degree of governmental involvement. There are indications that pregnant and lactating women, the two most vulnerable groups, are mildly deficient in iodine in several of the Nordic countries.

Conclusion

The Nordic countries employ different strategies to attain adequate iodine nutrition. The situation is not optimal and is in need of re-evaluation. Iodine researchers, Nordic national food administrations, and Nordic governmental institutions would benefit from collaboration to attain a broader approach and guarantee good iodine health for all.

Details

Title
Iodine status in the Nordic countries – past and present
Author
Helena Filipsson Nyström 1 ; Brantsæter, Anne Lise 2 ; Erlund, Iris 3 ; Gunnarsdottir, Ingibjörg 4 ; Hulthén, Lena 5 ; Laurberg, Peter 6 ; Mattisson, Irene 7 ; Lone Banke Rasmussen 8 ; Virtanen, Suvi 9 ; Meltzer, Helle Margrete 2 

 Institute of Medicine Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Endocrinology Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden 
 Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway 
 National Institute for Health and Welfare Helsinki, Finland 
 Unit for Nutrition Research University of Iceland and Landspitali National University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland 
 Department of Clinical Nutrition Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden 
 Department of Endocrinology Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark 
 National Food Agency, Uppsala, Sweden 
 Department of Endocrinology Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark 
 National Institute for Health and Welfare Helsinki, Finland; School of Health Sciences University of Tampere, Finland 
Publication year
2016
Publication date
Jan 2016
Publisher
Swedish Nutrition Foundation, SNF
e-ISSN
1654661X
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2215228849
Copyright
© 2016 Helena Filipsson Nyström et al. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.