A systematic review of iodine intake in children, adults, and pregnant women in Europe – comparison against dietary recommendations and evaluation of dietary iodine sources


Nutrient Intake Optimisation

Adequate iodine intake is essential throughout life. Key dietary sources are iodized salt and animal products, but dietary patterns in Europe are changing, for example toward lower salt intake and a more plant-based diet.

The objective of this systematic review was to review iodine intake (not status) in European populations (adults, children, and pregnant women) to identify at-risk groups and dietary sources. In total, 57 studies were included, comprising 22 national surveys and 35 sub-national studies. Iodine intake data were available from national surveys of children aged <10 years (n = 11), 11–17 years (n = 12), and adults (n = 15), but data from pregnancy were only available from sub-national studies.

We show that iodine intake data are lacking—only 17 of 45 (38%) European countries had iodine-intake data from national surveys. Iodine intake reported from national surveys was below recommendations for: (1) children aged <10 years in 2 surveys (18%), (2) boys and girls aged 11–17 years in 6 (50%) and 8 (68%) surveys, respectively, and (3) adult men and women in 7 (47%) and 12 (80%) surveys, respectively. In pregnant women, intake was below recommendations except where women were taking iodine-containing supplements. Just 32% of national surveys (n = 7) included iodized salt when estimating iodine intake. Milk, dairy products, fish, and eggs were important contributors to intake in many countries, suggesting limited sources in plant-based diets.

Results are limited by the challenges of dietary assessment for measuring iodine intake. Future national surveys should include iodine intake. Policy makers should consider dietary sources alongside any iodized salt policies when considering methods for improving population iodine intake.

To download this open-access article, please click here.

This work was commissioned by the Nutrient Intake Optimisation Task Force.