EUthyroid2

How can countries ensure that people are getting enough iodine in their diets? There are several ways iodine is introduced into the food chain, including salt iodisation, fortification of certain foods, animal feed, and the use of disinfectants in food production. 🔹 Many countries have salt iodisation programmes, but they may differ in terms of how much iodine is added to salt. 🔹 In some countries, it is mandatory to use iodised salt to produce bread and ready-made foods, whereas in others, it is voluntary. 🔹 These affect how much iodine ends up in foods such as milk and eggs because of what the animals eat or how the foods are produced. 🔹 Additionally, in some countries, food supplements containing iodine are available. 🔹 Legislation regarding iodised salt, food culture, and geographical conditions may create significant differences in iodine intake between countries – even those that are geographically close to each other. #nutrition #education #adolescents #youngwomen #IDD #PreventionIsKey

The possibility of classifying some salt as organic could threaten the brain development of Europe’s children ⚠️ ❗ In view of the upcoming AGRI vote on the targeted amendment to the Organic Regulation, we would like to highlight EUthyroid2's support for Amendments 150 and 151, both of which propose the deletion of “sea salt and other salts” from Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2018/848. ❗ The proposal to the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development to classify some “sea salt and other salts for food and feed” as organic may have the unintended consequence of causing consumers to mistakenly choose it as better for their health. Why should the Parliament remove salt from this organic classification? 1️⃣Firstly, salt is an inorganic compound, and does not grow as fruits, vegetables or cereals do. 2️⃣Secondly, consumers are unlikely to realize that choosing a salt labelled as organic means they could lose a vital source of essential iodine in their diet. ❗ If organic products use non-iodized salt as an ingredient, iodine intake will decrease without consumers knowing. This could in turn contribute to the growing re-emergence of iodine deficiency in Europe. For the past century, adding tiny amounts of iodine to salt has been a global public health success, protecting the developing brains of hundreds of millions of children from less visible but still significant losses in cognitive development. ❗To avoid any impact of iodine deficiency on fetal brain development, women must enter pregnancy with adequate iodine status. ❗If this classification of salt as organic proceeds, it may confuse consumers, and there can be yet another contributing factor to an already growing problem. Muhammad Nasir Khan Khattak Ph.D Konstantinos Makris Gitte Ravn-Haren Lisbeth Dahl Linda Henderson Anna Bokor #EUthyroid2 #IodineCoalitionEurope #IDD #PreventionIsKey #HaDEA

What do you know about iodine's journey? Iodine’s journey starts in the ocean, where fish, shellfish, and seaweed absorb it from seawater. From the ocean, iodine evaporates into the air in tiny droplets. These droplets fall on land when it rains, and the soil absorbs the iodine. 📍Furthermore, national regulations on iodine content in animal feed, food fortification, and salt iodisation programmes influence the level of iodine in foods. 📍 Through iodine fortification, iodine is added to certain foods such as salt, bread, cereals, or milk with the aim to increase the amount of iodine in particular foods and make sure that people have sufficient intake of this important micronutrient. 📍 In some countries, iodine is also used as a disinfectant during milking, and so milk and dairy products are also good sources of iodine in your diet. 📍Hence, iodine enters the food chain in various ways. 📍At EUthyroid2, we are educating children, adolescents, and young people about the key role of iodine, iodine nutrition, and its importance to their health and that of their future offspring. #education #iodine #nutrition #IDD #PreventionIsKey #HaDEA

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for iodine The WHO recommendations are based on the average daily intake of iodine necessary to maintain thyroid hormones and overall well-being for different age groups and life stages. 📌WHO daily iodine recommendations: age 0-5 years: 90 micrograms (mcg)/day age 6-12 years: 120 mcg/day older than 12 years: 150 mcg/day pregnant and lactating women: 250 mcg/day ❗ Pregnant women need more iodine. Adequate iodine nutrition before becoming pregnant is essential. 📌A child’s future health and ability to develop, learn, and thrive depend on good nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life, as well as in the early years of life. 📌Iodine is essential for the healthy brain development of the fetus, and the brain development of the fetus begins a few days after conception. ❗ Remember: women who plan to get pregnant should make sure to have sufficient daily iodine intake. #nutrition #EducationIsKey #IDD #prevention #thyroid #health #HaDEA

Are you getting the recommended amount of iodine? The WHO recommends an intake of 150 micrograms (μg) iodine per day for adults to prevent iodine deficiency. 🔷 Below are some examples of iodine sources in the UK: 🔺White fish (cod, haddock): 1 fillet >100% 🔺Cow’s milk: 1 glass 40% % of daily recommended iodine intake per portion 🔺Yoghurt: 1 pot 40% 🔺1 egg: 17% 🔺Hard cheese e.g. cheddar: 40 g 10% 🔺Plant-based drinks: Only 20% of plant-based milk alternative drinks are fortified with iodine, check the label! 🔷 Iodised salt, check the label: while salt is fortified with iodine in many countries, iodised salt is not widely available in the UK, always check the label to see if salt is iodised. #EUthyroid2 #iodine #nutrition #IDD #HaDEA

We are pleased to announce that the 2026 American Thyroid Association Guideline for Thyroid Disease in Preconception, Pregnancy, and Postpartum has been released. 📌 The Guideline for Thyroid Disease in Preconception, Pregnancy, and Postpartum provides: 🔹 comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations intended to support clinicians, researchers, patients, and policymakers in delivering high-quality care before, during, and after pregnancy Healthy pregnancies begin with informed care. The updated ATA pregnancy guideline aims: 🔹to provide evidence-based recommendations to support the evaluation and management of thyroid disease before, during, and after pregnancy 🔹to optimize maternal thyroid health and improve outcomes for both mothers and their babies The guideline was co-first-authored by Dr. Tim I.M. Korevaar and Dr. Angela M. Leung, along with an international, multidisciplinary task force, and endorsed by Thyroid Federation International. #ATA #guideline #preconception #pregnancy #postpartum

🟥Here is all you need to know about pregnancy and iodine requirements 🟥 Pregnant women require significantly higher iodine intake than non-pregnant women to support healthy fetal brain development and maternal thyroid function. ❗ What are the the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations? 🔹 During pregnancy, iodine requirements increase by more than 50%–yet across Europe, many pregnant women fall short. 🔹 This may have serious consequences: insufficient iodine may slow growth and impair the neurological development of the baby. 🔹 Even mild iodine deficiency may lead to a lower IQ in children. 🔹 A child's cognitive potential is shaped in the womb–and iodine fortification remains the most cost-effective way to protect it. ❗ Why do iodine requirements increase during pregnancy? 🔹 During pregnancy, the body must produce more thyroid hormones to maintain normal levels while supplying the fetus. 🔹 The fetus depends entirely on the mother for its iodine supply, particularly during the first trimester. 🔹 Pregnancy also increases the amount of iodine lost through the kidneys. ❗ Why isn't iodine reaching everyone?  🔹Lack of standardized, regulations across the EU inhibits the wider use of iodised salt and the fortification of plant-based products with iodine. 🔹Uneven regulations across countries create legal uncertainty for food manufacturers; therefore, they feel safer to use non-iodised salt in pre-packaged food. 🔹Harmonised regulations and clear EU-wide labelling could help the food industry ensure that Europeans have access to iodine. 🔹Ensuring sufficient iodine intake is essential for a healthy pregnancy, child development, learning outcomes, and long-term population health. #iodine #Fortification #pregnancy #IDD #PreventionIsKey #HaDEA

Prof. Dr. Leonidas Duntas' World Thyroid Day webinar on Thyroid and Nutrition is now accessible on the YouTube channel of Thyroid Federation International, partner of EUthyroid2. If you missed the live webinar, you can watch it here: https://lnkd.in/d2qYSKwm Leonidas Duntas is the Advisory Board Member of EUthyroid2. He is the Head of the Outpatient Endocrine Clinic at Evgenideion Hospital and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Chair of the Public Health Committee of the European Thyroid Association (ETA). A heartfelt thank you to Prof. Dr. Leonidas Duntas for this brilliant presentation on Thyroid and Nutrition! #WorldThyroidDay #InternationalThyroidAwarenessWeek #webinar #Rome

This World Thyroid Day, as we raise awareness around nutrition for thyroid health, we want to thank European Thyroid Journal for the partnership and continuous support of our mission. EUthyroid2 builds on previous work from the initial EUthyroid consortium, which highlighted major gaps in awareness around iodine nutrition. EUthyroid2 aims to improve understanding of iodine-related health risks, particularly among children, adolescents and young women by developing effective approaches to improve iodine intake and promote better thyroid and overall health, now and for future generations. 🔗 Learn more about the project in the commentary article published in the European Thyroid Journal: https://lnkd.in/eVVPg9eF #WorldThyroidDay2026 #WorldThyroidDay #ThyroidHealth #Iodine #HaDEA

Join our free webinar: "Thyroid and Nutrition" on World Thyroid Day, May 25, 2026, with Prof. Dr. Leonidas Duntas, Endocrinologist, University of Athens. Register here: https://lnkd.in/dFp8mYHR Date and time: May 25, 2026 14:30 PM CET Paris time 13:30 UK, Ireland, Nigeria, Ghana time 8:30 AM New York time 16:30 Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania 18:00 IST New Delhi time 19:15 Nepal time 18:30 Bangladesh 20:30 Singapore, Philippines time (Please check your local time according to 14:30 PM CET Paris time) Professor Leonidas Duntas received his specialization in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology at the University of Ulm. He is the Head of Outpatient Endocrine Clinic at Evgenideion Hospital and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He is the Chair of the Public Health Committee of the European Thyroid Association (ETA), and he is an active member of HASOMED (Hellenic Association for the Study of Obesity, Metabolism and Eating Disorders), of which he has also been president. #TFI #webinar #WorldThyroidDay #ThyroidAndNutrition