Iodine knowledge is positively associated with dietary iodine intake among women of childbearing age in the UK and Ireland. Issue 10 (18th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: O'Kane, S. Maria; Pourshahidi, L. Kirsty; Farren, Kayla M.; Mulhern, Maria S.; Strain, J. J.; Yeates, Alison J.
• Is Part Of: British journal of nutrition. Volume 116:Issue 10(2016)
• Page Start: 1728
• Page End: 1735
• Publication Date: 2016-11-18
• Subjects: Iodine, -- Iodine knowledge, -- Women of childbearing age, -- Dietary iodine intake; Nutrition -- Periodicals; 572.4
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007114516003925
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1145

Abstract

Abstract: Adequate I intake is important before conception and during pregnancy for optimal infant neurodevelopment. Recent studies have highlighted the prevalence of I deficiency in the UK and Ireland. It is possible that optimal I intake may be impeded by a poor knowledge of I nutrition. This study aimed to investigate I knowledge among women of childbearing age in the UK and Ireland and to determine whether a relationship exists between I knowledge and dietary I intake. Females (aged 18–45 years) were invited to complete an online questionnaire, which assessed knowledge of I and estimated dietary I intake using a FFQ. A total of 520 females of childbearing age completed the study. I knowledge was poor; only one-third (32 %) of the participants correctly identified pregnancy as the most important stage of the lifecycle for I, and 41 % of participants could not correctly identify any health problem related to I deficiency. The median daily I intake was estimated as 152 µg/d. Almost half (46 %) of the participants failed to meet dietary recommendations (140 µg/d) for I. A higher dietary I intake was positively associated with greater I knowledge ( r 0·107; P =0·016). This study suggests that knowledge of I nutrition is low among women of childbearing age, and those with a greater knowledge of I nutrition had a higher dietary I intake. Initiatives to educate women of childbearing age on the importance of I nutrition should be considered as part of a larger public health strategy to address I deficiency.