Iodine nutrition with North Atlantic living: the Faroese adolescents. (8th February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Johannesen, Herborg Líggjasardóttir; Andersen, Stig; Andersen, Stine Linding; Nielsen, Kári Rubek; Weihe, Pál; Petersen, Maria Skaalum; Veyhe, Anna Sofía
• Is Part Of: Journal of nutritional science. Volume 12(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02-08
• Subjects: Artic society -- Faroe Islands -- Health survey -- Iodine status -- Urinary iodine excretion; Nutrition -- Periodicals; 612.305
• DOI: 10.1017/jns.2022.111
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2048-6790

Abstract

Abstract: Abstract : Iodine nutrition is critical for human health. While iodine excretion was low within the recommended range among adult Faroese, younger generations tend to abandon local foods. Such changes raise a concern about iodine intake, which led us to perform this first study of iodine nutrition among teenagers in the North Atlantic islands. We used samples from a nationwide collection of urine samples in 14-year-olds following iodine fortification of salt in 2000. Urine was analysed for iodine and creatinine to adjust for dilution by iodine/creatinine, and a food frequency questionnaire was used to record the intake of iodine-rich foods. The 129 participants yielded a 90 % precision of the estimated iodine nutrition level. The median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was 166 μg/l (bootstrapped 95 % confidence interval 156–184 μg/l). The median creatinine-adjusted UIC was 132 μg/g (bootstrapped 95 % CI 120–138 μg/g). Fish and whale meat dinners were more frequent among residents of villages compared with the capital: median fish dinners, 3 v. 2 per week ( P = 0⋅001), and whale meat, 1 v. 0⋅4 per month ( P < 0⋅001). UIC decreased with fewer fish dinners ( P = 0⋅03). Our study demonstrated that Faroese teenagers were iodine-replete. The changing dietary habits emphasise the need for continuous monitoring of iodine nutrition and surveying iodine deficiency disorders.