Is iodine supply sufficient in Europe?

Iodine deficiency affects many people in Europe - experts now want to remedy the situation

A Europe-wide initiative now wants to minimize the widespread iodine deficiency and its negative consequences for human health. Researchers from 27 countries are working on the large project to help experts with standardized parameters in their studies. For several years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that more and more people in Europe are being affected by the negative effects of iodine deficiency.

The scientists of the University Medical Center Greifswald are responsible for the coordination of a Europe-wide initiative against iodine deficiency. Such a shortage affects more and more people in Europe. The project, called "Euthyroid Network", has already been funded by the EU with three million euros.

Lack of iodine seems to be relatively widespread among people in Europe. Physicians from different countries are now working together on a project to improve the monitoring of iodine supply in Europe. (Image: mapoli-photo / fotolia.com)

Iodine deficiency in Europe must be combated

The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that monitoring iodine intake is an important step towards a sustainable and improved supply of iodine across Europe. Only in this way can the negative health consequences of iodine deficiency in Germany and in other European countries be overcome, explain the scientists. The so-called euthyroid network is coordinated by the University Medical Center Greifswald and researchers from a total of 27 countries work together on this project.

What is the Euthyroid Network doing??

The Euthyroid Network uses standardized questionnaires for children and adults in multiple languages. Thus, the socioeconomic status of study participants can be determined. In addition, Euthyroid provides a teaching video and written guidance to enable the use of thyroid ultrasound in population studies.

Certified laboratory should allow comparative measurements

There are also instructions for laboratory tests by Euthyroid. These instructions range from blood sampling or urine sampling to the key measurements to determine iodine and thyroid parameters. A certified laboratory from Euthyroid should also allow comparative measurements.

People in most regions of the world suffer from a lack of iodine

An increasing number of people across Europe seem to be affected by the negative effects of iodine deficiency, say World Health Organization (WHO) researchers. According to the WHO, people in most regions of the world suffer from such iodine deficiency. Here regular monitoring by preventive care programs is particularly important, say the experts.

Iodine supply must become uniform in Europe

Supply of iodine in Europe is particularly mixed due to many regional differences, experts say. There is only regular monitoring of iodine supply in very few countries in Europe. Another problem is that scientists use different methods in their studies. The iodine supply and prophylaxis are so different on the European continent that this makes the comparative scientific studies much more difficult. In the worst case, the differences would even make such studies completely impossible.

In fact, Europe has a lot of experience in harmonizing measures beyond the borders of individual countries. However, this experience does not help in the prevention of iodine deficiency, scientists say. But perhaps the Euthyroid Network can help make this issue a thing of the past. (As)