Australian Women and Children Do Not Take Enough Iodine in Their Food

Australian women and children do not take enough iodine in their food, according to Australian Total Diet Study by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).

Citing the study, Jan McLucas, Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, said: 'Insufficient iodine intake, particularly in groups such as pregnant women, babies, and young children, is of great concern.

Iodine Deficiency Disorder - Causes - NIDDCP Launch - Objectives - NIDDCP Executed - FAQs
To control IDD, the ‘National Goiter Control Program (NGCP)’ was launched which was later renamed as the ‘National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Program (NIDDCP)’.

'Mild to moderate iodine deficiency can result in children having learning difficulties and can affect the development of motor skills and hearing. In extreme cases it can result in severe intellectual disability.

'The findings of the study confirm the necessity of the mandatory addition of iodine to bread, which is to be introduced by FSANZ by September next year. About 43 per cent of Australians have an inadequate intake of iodine, and FSANZ estimates that this will drop to no more than five per cent after iodine fortification of bread.'

Women aged 19 to 49, which covers most of their childbearing years, need between 100 and 200 micrograms of iodine a day and the study showed 70 per cent were not getting enough. Ten per cent of children aged two to three years were not getting enough. Ninety-six types of food were tested in a 'table-ready' state for the trace elements selenium, chromium, molybdenum and nickel as well as iodine. While the survey showed that most Australians have adequate dietary intakes of three of the other four nutrients, selenium intake needs further investigation.

The FSANZ Chief Scientist, Dr Paul Brent, said that the agency had taken a new approach in producing a world-leading total diet study focussed exclusively on nutrients. “It is the first major study to assess nutrition against Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand,recently released by the National Health and Medical Research Council,” Dr Brent said.

He said FSANZ had broadened the scope of the study to include a wider range of substances, including additives and nutrients, as the more traditional testing of pesticide residues and contaminants continually showed that levels of these chemicals in the Australian food supply were safe. FSANZ will continue to monitor pesticide residues, although on a less frequent basis, every five years.

Iodine

This medication is an essential mineral, prescribed as a nutrient, antiseptic, thyroid agent and expectorant.

The Australian Total Diet Study is conducted about every two years to ensure the Australian food supply is safe and nutritious. The 23rd ATDS is already under way and will cover a large range of pesticide residues and veterinary chemicals, as well as selenium, fluoride, aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, mercury and zinc, and toxins present in fungus and mould.

Source-Medindia
GPL/SK