Barcelona In bars and cafes it is increasingly common to hear someone asking for a coffee with milk soy, oat or almond instead of animal milk because of its taste or because it is better in the stomach. There is also more interest in following diets that exclude foods such as eggs or fish for ethical reasons, and that eliminate salt. In Europe, this change in preferences is increasing a nutritional problem that can have consequences for the health of children and adults: iodine deficiency, a key mineral for thyroid regulation that the human body is unable to produce and it must be acquired through food. This has been warned by the World Health Organization (WHO) in a joint report with the World Iodine Network published this Friday. “The increasing popularity and availability of plant-based alternatives to key sources of iodine, such as milk, dairy products and fish, contribute to persistently insufficient iodine intake in the WHO European Region,” says Dr. study
The health authority stresses that dairy products have always been an important source of iodine in many Western and Central European countries, especially for children. Also many animal feeds and supplements are fortified with iodine to improve farm animal health and milk yields. However, the consumption of dairy products is declining among adolescents and adults, and mostly none of the alternative milk drinks, for example, work as an iodine supplement. The WHO assures that these changes in habits increase various risks, especially among women and, especially, among pregnant women, who may already be suffering from health problems.
People who do not get enough iodine do not produce the necessary amounts of thyroid hormone and, in addition to the visible sign of a goiter, which is a lump or swelling in the front of the neck caused by a swollen thyroid, it also causes disorders of the avoidable thyroid For example, thyroid nodules, multinodular goiter and hyperthyroidism, especially in adults and the elderly. Untreated hyperthyroidism increases the risk of cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure, osteoporosis, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and cognitive impairment in the elderly.
In pregnant women, lack of iodine increases the risk of miscarriage. But in the first months of pregnancy it is also essential that iodine levels are adequate to avoid problems in the formation of the nervous system of the fetus that can lead to neurocognitive disorders of learning and behavior.
Alternative product supplements
“The shift to plant-based dairy alternatives, especially among women, who already have a higher risk of iodine deficiency and thyroid disease than men, is of concern for their nutrition, especially in countries that rely on of milk as a source of iodine,” says WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge. “This report has been crucial in highlighting an existing problem in Europe,” he adds.
Currently, the main way of iodization is salt, specifically of foods that would not be the health standard either, such as bread, processed meats or prepared dishes. “[Aquests aliments] they are now the main sources of salt in a Western diet, accounting for 70-80% of the total. However, recent market surveys found that only 9% of salt in processed food products in Germany and 34% in Switzerland was iodized,” the report states.
“Countries need more flexible policy strategies to protect people from iodine deficiency, including mandatory policies for the use of food-grade iodized salt in processed foods and the integration of salt reduction and salt iodization measures” , the report suggests. And with reference to alternative products, he adds that iodine supplementation should be guaranteed.
2024-06-28 18:02:11
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