Hygiena 2018, 63(1):25-27 | DOI: 10.21101/hygiena.a1582

Prevention of iodine deficiency in the Czech Republic

Marie Nejedlá

Státní zdravotní ústav, Meziresortní komise pro řešení jódového deficitu, Praha

The Czech Republic suffers from a lack in iodine of natural resources and the health consequences of iodine deficiency have occurred here a long time ago. Kitchen salt began to be iodized in the mid-20th century and the problem with iodine was suppresed resolved. However, alarming results of examinations performed by the Institute of Endocrinology in Prague in the first half of the 1990´s showed a slight iodine deficiency in 50% of adults and a more serious deficiency in 12% of men and 21% of women, and in 7% of boys and 10% of girls. The Intersectoral Committee on Iodine Deficiency Solution was established in 1995 as an informal association of experts from medicine, representatives from ministries, governmental authorities, NGOs and from the food and pharmaceutical industries. The committee managed all activities to increase iodine saturation in the population. On proposal of the Committee the government in its decree recommended to increase the daily intake of iodine to150 µg/d and the iodine content in iodized salt to 27 ± 7 mg/kg. Monitoring of population iodine levels in urine started. Already in 2002 it can be stated, that iodine deficiency has been removed. Then over the next two decades, iodine saturation slightly rose up to the range of increased saturation with median iodine levels in the urine of 150-300 µg/L. It reflected a higher interest of the public concerning iodine, extension of usage of iodized salt in the food industry an unexpected increase of iodine concentration in cow´s milk. Therefore, the Committee endeavoured to reduce the of iodine supplement in milk cow supplemented feed. Thereafter, since 2005, iodine levels in milk began to decline. In recent population surveys, there is apparent a gradual slight decrease of iodine concentrations in the urine still in the optimum range. To satisfy an optimum iodine status, it is necessary to eliminate persistent iodine deficiency in a significant percentage of pregnant women.

Keywords: iodine deficiency, iodine deficiency prevention

Published: April 30, 2018  Show citation