Iodine intake of Slovenian adolescents.
BACKGROUND
Slovenia is classified as being iodine-deficient. We recently found that Slovenian adolescents are iodine-sufficient (median urinary iodine concentration of the population 140 microg/l) and the prevalence of goiter is low (0.9%). The objective of this study was to evaluate iodine intake, the prevalence of marginal, low and excessive intake (<50, 50-100 and >or=300 microg/day), as well as the main sources of iodine in the diet of Slovenian adolescents.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study included 2,581 adolescents (1,415 girls, 1,166 boys, mean age +/- SD 15.6 +/- 0.5 years) representing 10% of 15-year-old Slovenian adolescents. Iodine intake was determined using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in the whole population studied (n = 2,485) and weighted 3-day dietary protocols (3DPs) in a subgroup of participants (n = 191).


RESULTS
Median iodine intake determined from FFQ was 155.8 microg/day. There was no significant difference between genders. Marginal, low and excessive iodine intake was observed in 3.3, 20.3 and 11.3% of the adolescents, respectively. The major food sources of dietary iodine included table salt (39 % of the mean daily iodine intake), beverages (22%) and milk/milk products (19%).


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary iodine intake in Slovenian adolescents is adequate, illustrating the effective salt iodization program.
Stimec
Matevz
M
Centre for Nutrition, University Children's Hospital, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Mis
Natasa Fidler
NF
Smole
Katarina
K
Sirca-Campa
Andreja
A
Kotnik
Primoz
P
Zupancic
Mirjana
M
Battelino
Tadej
T
Krizisnik
Ciril
C
D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003611:Dairy Products / Q000032:analysis; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency; D008297:Male; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D017524:Slovenia; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; C034024:iodized salt; D007455:Iodine