EUthyroid2

What is Iodine Global Network's Program Assessment Tool and why is it so important? Developed by IGN in partnership with UNICEF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this tool is a crucial resource for assessing and strengthening iodine programs. It helps countries quickly and cost-effectively determine whether their iodine programs are truly optimal. As many countries shift their priorities, the tool ensures that national iodine programs remain sustainable and equitable, driving action where it’s most needed. IGN, with support from its partners, is committed to helping countries optimize their iodine programs and protect vulnerable populations from iodine deficiency. For more information about IGN's work: www.ign.org #iodine #saltiodization #IDD #iodine #nutrition #HaDEA

On World Iodine Deficiency Prevention Day, we want to highlight that during pregnancy, the body requires more thyroid hormones. However, even healthy pregnant women living in areas with mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency may not have enough of these hormones. 📍 Maternal hypothyroxinemia during early pregnancy can affect fetal neurodevelopment, even in iodine-sufficient areas. 📍The placenta actively transports iodide from the maternal to the fetal circulation to provide iodide for thyroid hormone synthesis. 📍Compromised transfer of maternal thyroid hormone to the fetus can cause permanent damage to the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum. 📍Although many countries have improved their population's iodine status, we are now seeing a new trend where impaired cognitive outcomes are accompanied by various behavioural disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 📍Remember: Iodine: 🔹is crucial during pregnancy for the healthy brain development of the baby. 🔹plays a pivotal role that substantially contributes to postnatal development and plasticity of neural tissues. Velasco I, Bath SC, Rayman MP. Iodine as Essential Nutrient during the First 1000 Days of Life. Nutrients. 2018;10(3):290. #iodine #IDD #PreventionIsKey #pregnancy #EuropeanUnion #HaDEA

The EUthyroid2 Second Annual Meeting was held last week, October 9, 2024, in Baveno, Italy. The meeting day included various inspiring sessions: 📍study implementation in the ambulatory care and educational setting outlined by: 📍Prof. Henry Völzke and Vivien Henck (University Medicine Greifswald), 📍Theresa Heering (Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf), 📍Synnøve Næss Sleire (Institute of Marine Research) 📍Signe Skovgaard Hansen (Technical University of Denmark) 📍Christoph Schickhardt, Ethics Advisor, discussed the question of ethical challenges in the intervention 📍Phil Pendt, University Medicine Greifswald, summarised the structure of the intervention materials 📍Anna Bokor, TFI, gave an overview of the communication and dissemination activities and study materials in different languages The meeting progressed with work packages highlighting the milestones achieved and delving into the tasks and collaborative efforts driving our project forward. 💙Thank you to all participants in person and online for being with us and for your very involved participation! #EUthyroid2 #AnnualMeeting #IDDPrevention #iodine #nutrition #HaDEA #EuropeanUnion

Iodine leaders and experts from the scientific, academic, and medical communities, along with industry representatives and policymakers, gather in Baveno, Italy, today for the 3rd World Iodine Association International Conference. Follow along for discussions on the latest scientific findings and policy developments in preventing #iodine deficiency disorders.

📌The 3rd World Iodine Association Conference starts tomorrow! Prof.Dr. Henry Völzke, the Coordinator of EUthyroid2, will give an outline of the EUthyroid2 project. 📌7-8 October 2024 📌Baveno, Italy #iodine #nutrition #EUthyroid2 #HaDEA

📌How to transform schools to health-promoting schools? Join the 10th annual public health workshop organised by the International Institute of Environmental and Public Health and hosted by the University of Cyprus.

📌Iodine intake and reducing sodium intake are compatible and need to be optimised: World Health Organization (WHO) promotes programmes to reduce sodium intake and thus decrease the burden of NCDs, and also promotes Universal Salt Iodization (USI) to prevent and control iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). 📌 Policymakers and academics need to bring together: 🔹salt fortification communities and 🔹salt reduction communities 🔹to develop double-duty sodium-related policies, which can have significant public health benefit. 📍WHO recommends: for adults: a daily sodium intake of less than 2 g (equivalent to 5 g or a teaspoon of salt) for children: the level of intake should be adjusted downward based on their energy requirements according to age 📍WHO recommends: 150 μg/day of iodine for adolescents and adults 250 μg/day of iodine for pregnant and lactating women 120 μg/day for children aged 6–12 years old 📍Iodine deficiency can cause functional health impairment, and learning disabilities in children, while severe iodine deficiency can cause brain damage in the baby. 📍WHO recommends that all food-grade salt used in households and food processing should be fortified with iodine as a safe and effective strategy for the prevention and control of IDD. What can policymakers do? 📌creation of policies to enable the adjustment of iodine concentrations considering population sodium intake 📌understand that policies to eliminate IDD through USI and policies to reduce sodium intake to reduce blood pressure and the risk of CVDs are compatible 📌taking immediate action to combine salt reduction and iodine fortification. Universal salt iodization and sodium intake reduction: compatible, cost-effective strategies of great public health benefitWorld Health Organization 2022. #iodinefortification #saltreduction #policy #USI #WHO #HaDEA

We are pleased to announce that our sister project, FLOURISH Study, has published its study protocol: 'Family-focused intervention to promote adolescent mental health and well-being in Moldova and North Macedonia (FLOURISH)'. 📌This study, available on BMJ Open, outlines the feasibility of implementing a family-focused intervention aimed at improving mental health outcomes and well-being for adolescents in these two study regions. 📖 You can read the full study: www.flourish-study.org 📌This is an important milestone achieved by the FLOURISH Study. 📌This research is an important step toward understanding and addressing the mental health challenges faced by adolescents and their families in Moldova and North Macedonia. #sisterproject #FLOURISH #studyprotocol #adolescents #HaDEA

Salt Reduction and Iodine Fortification Policies Are Compatible: Perspectives for Public Health Advocacy: Consume less salt, but iodised salt! Although excessive salt intake should be avoided, salt is an ideal vehicle for iodine fortification, especially as it can be added to bread, and bouillon throughout the food chain. Therefore, public health policy must find a way to integrate these policies successfully. 💡 As salt reduction is recommended globally, there is concern that iodine deficiency may persist as an issue in Europe and beyond. 📌 World Health Organisation:  📍 endorses universal salt iodisation whereby salt for human and animal consumption is iodised (including salt for processing)  📍reaffirms that reducing salt and increasing iodine intake through salt iodisation are compatible as the concentration of iodine in salt can be adjusted as salt intake is reduced 💡 Through a joint planning, salt reduction and iodine fortification policies offer an effective, cost-effective, and achievable dual opportunity to influence health outcomes for present and future generations. 💡 The policies for salt iodisation and reduction of salt to less than 5g/day are compatible, cost-effective and of great public health benefit. 💡Countries are urged to take immediate action to combine salt reduction and iodine fortification. 📌 Remember: Use less salt, but iodised salt! Rigutto-Farebrother J, Zimmermann MB. Salt Reduction and Iodine Fortification Policies Are Compatible: Perspectives for Public Health Advocacy. Nutrients. 2024. #iodine #iodisedsalt #publichealth #WHO #USI #PreventionIsKey #HaDEA

The remarkable impact of iodisation programmes on global public health: Iodine deficiency has been identified as a major global risk factor for impaired child development, requiring urgent interventions. The most effective way to tackle iodine deficiency is to monitor salt iodisation. Iodised salt programmes have a remarkable impact: 📍 The number of countries with adequate iodine intake has increased in the last 20 years, from 67 in 2003 to 118 in 2020. 📍 The resulting improvements in cognitive development and future earnings suggest a potential global economic benefit of nearly $33 billion. 📌 However, not all countries have adopted Universal Salt Iodisation, and progress is slipping due to competing priorities. REMEMBER: 📌Salt iodisation is a low-cost and sustainable intervention against iodine deficiency and it is still the major solution recommended by the World Health Assembly. 📍Iodine is an essential component of thyroid hormones. Moreover, insufficient iodine intake during pregnancy can reduce a child's IQ by 8 to 10 points and up to 13.5 points in case of severe deficiency, hindering children's learning ability and school performance. 📍Adding tiny amounts of iodine to salt can address the problem. Zimmermann MB. The remarkable impact of iodisation programmes on global public health. Proc Nutr Soc. 2023. #iodisedsalt #iodine #IDD #prevention #children #adolecents #HaDEA