Quantification of Iodine Supply: Representative Data on Intake and Urinary Excretion of Iodine from the German Population in 1996

Manz, Friedrich; Böhmer, Thomas; Gärtner, Roland; Grossklaus, Rolf; Klett, Martin and Schneider, Roland (2002): Quantification of Iodine Supply: Representative Data on Intake and Urinary Excretion of Iodine from the German Population in 1996. In: Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, No. 3-4: pp. 128-138

Abstract

Background/Methods: In Germany, iodine deficiency is common. In a representative group of 2,500 Germans (age >13 years), using a specially designed food questionnaire, the iodine intake was calculated. In addition, iodine and creatinine concentrations in spot urine samples were determined in three groups with a possibly increased risk of iodine deficiency (769 conscripts, 886 pairs of mothers and newborns) or future hyperthyroidism (574 adults, age range 50-70 years) from 26 representative regions. In four groups of controls (young and older male and female adults; n = 91), 24-hour urine iodine and creatinine were measured in six diurnal fractions to calculate group- and period-specific factors for the estimation of the 24-hour iodine excretion from data of iodine/creatinine ratio and time of micturition in spot urine samples. Results: The mean calculated iodine intake (excretion) was 119 mug/day for the group of Germans above 13 years; it was 119 mug/day (125 mug/day) for adults aged 50-70 years, 137 mug/day (125 mug/day)for conscripts, and 162 mug/day for breast-feeding mothers. The median iodine concentration (iodine/creatinine ratio) was 9.4 mug/dl (83 mug/g) in 566 adults aged 50-70 years, 8.3 mug/dl (57 mug/g) in 772 conscripts. and 5.6 mug/dl (156 mug/g) in 739 breast-fed newborns. Conclusions: Compared to older data, the iodine intake in Germany has increased. In 1996, the meticulously quantified average deficit was about 30% of the recommended iodine intake. Copyright (C) 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Form of publication: Publisher's Version
• Faculties: Medicine
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health
• ISSN: 0250-6807
• Alliance/National Licence: This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.
• Language: English