Iodine status in Melbourne adults in the early 1990s and 2007-08

Baxter JRR, L.; Huggins, C. E.; Brinkman, M.; Giles, G. G.; English, D.; Ma, G.; Eastman, C. J.; Nowson, C. A. (2011) Iodine status in Melbourne adults in the early 1990s and 2007-08. Aust N Z J Public Health 35:408-411

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the iodine status of Melbourne adults in 1992-94 and 2007-08, and to assess dietary iodine intake to enable comparison with recommended Nutrient Reference Values. METHOD: A cross-sectional study utilising 24-hr urine samples collected at two time points in a random sample of the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study. Two hundred and fifty seven adults (128 males, 129 females) in 1992-94, with a mean age of 56 years, and 265 adults (132 males, 133 females) in 2007-08, with a mean age of 68 years, were assessed, all being Melbourne residents. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was determined and daily urinary iodine excretion and daily iodine intake were assessed. RESULTS: In 1992-94, the median UIC was 27 mug/L and 84% had UIC <50 mug/l.="" the="" median="" daily="" iodine="" intake="" was="" 51="" mug/d,="" and="" 83%="" of="" participants="" had="" dietary="" iodine="" intakes="" below="" the="" estimated="" average="" requirement="" of="" 100="" mug/d.="" in="" 2007-08,="" the="" median="" uic="" was="" 49="" mug/l,="" 51%="" had="" uic=""><50 mug/l="" and="" the="" median="" daily="" iodine="" intake="" was="" 98="" mug/d,="" with="" 52%="" of="" intakes="" below="" the="" ear.="" conclusion:="" melbourne="" adults="" were="" moderately="" iodine="" deficient="" in="" 1992-94,="" and="" borderline="" moderately="" deficient="" in="" 2007-08.="" implications:="" while="" iodine="" status="" appears="" to="" have="" improved,="" it="" remains="" below="" an="" adequate="" level="" for="" much="" of="" the="" adult="" population="" of="" victoria.="" adequate="" monitoring="" is="" fundamental="" to="" assess="" whether="" the="" mandatory="" use="" of="" iodised="" salt="" in="" bread="" is="" effective="" in="" reducing="" iodine="" deficiency="" across="" all="" population="">