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

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.