Iodine Deficiency; Pieces of Knowledge in the Czech Republic and Abroad

Overview

Iodine deficiency has been known in Bohemia and Moravia since times of old, and the CzechRepublic has much experience in solving the problem. A newly appearing deficiency in iodinein the early 90s has been overcome in recent years through a number of preventive interventions,and theCzechRepublic thus joined the family of countries thathave beensuccessful in thatrespect.It has beenmaterialized by an increase of the iodine level in salt to 27mg.kg-1 and by using iodateinstead of unstable iodide, by expanding the application of iodized salt in the food manufacturingindustry, and through the facultative supplementation of some foods (powdered milk for infantsand breast-feeding mothers, dietary supplements for the pregnant, etc.).Research into the association between iodine intake and thyroid functions and other healthimpacts is still going on intensively in many countries, including the Czech Republic. Therecommended common daily intake of 150
g iodine has been widely confirmed as well as iodineexcretion being a reliable marker of saturation. Undesirable impacts have been remindedconnection with over-saturation, therefore the monitoring of ioduria is a component in preventiveactivities. The mean values of ioduria in various population groups in recent years(2000-2003) in the Czech Republic have been in the range of 110-250
g I/L urine.

Key words:
iodine deficiency - prevention