Representative data of iodine intake and urinary excretion in Germany

To evaluate the iodine supply of the German population, 2500 representative subjects older than 13 years were elected for answering a specific food questionnaire. In addition spot urine samples in 3 selected risk groups for iodine deficiency (574 adults aged 50-70 years, 769 conscripts, 886 pairs of mothers and newborns) from 26 representative regions were collected. Furthermore the circadian iodine excretion was measured in 24 h urine samples collected in 6 fractions per day in 4 subgroups (young and older males and females) of 91 controls and this 24 h iodine excretion related to iodine/creatinine ratio in these subgroups. Mean estimated iodine intake was 119 microg/d in adults aged 50-70 years, 137 microg/d in conscripts, and 162 microg/d in mothers at still birth. The mean iodine concentration (iodine/creatinine ratio) was 9.4 microg/dl in 566 adults aged 50-70 years, 8.3 microg/dl in 772 conscripts and 5.6 microg/dl in 739 breast fed newborns. The mean daily iodine excretion was 134 microg/d in 278 men aged 50-70 years, 117 microg/d in 288 women aged 50-70 years, 125 microg/d in 772 conscripts and 74 microg/d in 53 breast-feeding mothers not using iodine tablets. These results show, that iodine intake in Germany has increased over the last years. The deficit in iodine intake with significant regional differences and defined risk groups for iodine deficiency (e.g. breast feeding mothers without iodine deficiency prophylaxis) is estimated to be about 30% of the recommended iodine intake.