Iodine in food- and dietary supplement-composition databases

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Food Analysis
• Public Health

Background:

• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Nutrient Data Laboratory (NDL) independently assessed iodine content in foods and supplements.
• The FDA's Total Diet Study (TDS) has monitored iodine in foods regionally for years.
• The NDL has analyzed foods and is adding iodine analysis to its National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the plan for harmonizing iodine content data from the FDA and NDL.
• To present initial iodine analysis results obtained under the harmonization plan.
• To create improved tools for estimating population iodine intake.

Main Methods:

• The NDL qualified a commercial lab for iodine analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
• Co-analysis of samples by the commercial lab (ICP-MS) and FDA lab (colorimetric method) showed comparable results.
• FDA reviewed historical TDS data; NDL analyzed a subset of these foods for iodine.

Main Results:

• Initial co-analysis demonstrated comparable iodine results between ICP-MS and colorimetric methods.
• Harmonization efforts are underway to combine FDA and NDL data into a unified online database.
• NDL continues to analyze dietary supplements, publishing data in the Dietary Supplement Ingredient Database.

Conclusions:

• Harmonizing FDA and NDL iodine data will create a comprehensive resource for the US population.
• The combined data and ongoing TDS monitoring will enhance iodine intake estimations in population studies.
• This collaborative effort aims to provide better tools for nutritional assessment and public health initiatives related to iodine.