[Iodized salt consumption and sodium chloride metabolism]

In 42 families from Dortmund common table salt was replaced by iodized salt. In adults and adolescents over 12 years (n = 95) median intake of iodized salt at home was 1.9 g/d, in schoolchildren between 6 and 12 years (n = 36) 1.6 g/d and in small children (n = 20) 0.9 g/d. The range of the individual intake of iodized salt was large. Only 7% of the adults and the adolescents used more than 5 g/d. Only 39% of the daily consumption of iodized salt was directly added to the food consumed, whereas 61%, used e. g. to season cooking water, was only partially ingested. Overall urinary excretion of sodium chloride within the groups studied did not differ from data from other German groups. In men and boys median urinary excretion of sodium chloride was 12.2 g/d, in women and girls 9.5 g/d, in schoolchildren 5.9 g/d, and in small children 3.5 g/d. The consumption of iodized salt at home with an iodine concentration of 20 micrograms/g may increase iodine intake in adults and adolescents by about 20 micrograms/d. As an iodine deficit of about 100 micrograms/d cannot be met by regular consumption of iodized salt at home the present concept for prophylaxis of iodine deficiency should be revised.