Iodine status similarly suboptimal in Australian women who have desirable salt intakes compared to those with excessive intakes

Authors

Karen Charlton, University of WollongongFollow
Mary-Anne Land, University of Sydney
Gary Ma, University of Western Sydney
Heather Yeatman, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

83104

Publication Details

Charlton, K., Land, M., Ma, G. & Yeatman, H. (2014). Iodine status similarly suboptimal in Australian women who have desirable salt intakes compared to those with excessive intakes. Nutrition, 30 (2), 234-235.

Abstract

To the Editor: The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies salt reduction as a best buy, in terms of a cost-benefit analysis for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases. Global targets aim for a 30% relative reduction in mean population intake of salt or sodium with an overarching target of /d by 2025 [1]. At the same time as population salt reduction is recommended, there is concern that iodine deficiency may reemerge because many countries have adopted universal salt iodization (USI) to eliminate iodine-deficiency disorders. Iodine-deficiency disorders remain a major public health concern, resulting in impaired cognitive development and function, hypothyroidism, congenital abnormalities, cretinism, or endemic goitre [2]. The WHO endorses universal salt iodization whereby all salt for human and animal consumption is iodized (including salt for processed foods) and reaffirms that the public health goals of reducing salt and increasing iodine intake through salt iodization are compatible as the concentration of iodine in salt can be adjusted upward as salt intake is reduced [3].