Iodine Global Network (IGN)

Iodine in the global news

25. April 2011

Salt iodization surges in rural India, up 20% in five years

Use of adequately-iodized salt has reached 47.3% of rural households according to a new study released by ICCIDD, the Micronutrient Initiative and the Salt Commissioner of India, UpVery.com reported April 25. The AC Nielsen survey of eight Indian states...

21. April 2011

Thai iodine deficiency yields subpar infant IQs

An article in the April 21 Global Post liberally quotes ICCIDD vice-chair and regional coordinator Cres Eastman regarding his study of the environmental cause of mental handicaps in certain villages in Thailand suffering iodine deficiency. The article...

20. April 2011

India endorses double fortified salt

India's Prime Minister has endorsed a national initiative to double fortify salt with iodine and iron. While salt iodization is mandatory, the iron fortification will be voluntary -- though the double fortified salt will be required in all government...

13. April 2011

Household access to iodized salt in India climbs sharply

A 2009 all-India survey finds that 71% of Indian households have access to adequately iodized salt and nearly 20% more use salt with some, but inadequate amounts, of iodine. This represents a sharp increase from a similar survey in 2006 when only 54% of...

11. April 2011

UK slips to iodine deficiency: national assessment

Western Europe, North America and Australia had all been thought iodine-sufficient due to widespread use of iodized table salt. While U.S. surveys show marked decline, Australia discovered a significant deficiency several years ago and has mandated use...

08. April 2011

Copenhagen Consensus urges financial support for ICCIDD

The Copenhagen Consensus Center is concerned that well-meaning people intent on helping others may be mis-directing charitable contributions and offers a Guide to Giving: Making Your Donations Count introduction to organizations that it believes can...

31. March 2011

Belize Surveys Micronutrient Biomarkers

In collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and UNICEF, the Belize health ministry is conducting a national survey on micronutrient biomakers. The survey of volunteers will document anemia, red blood cell folate, ...

31. March 2011

Pakistan automates salt iodization monitoring

The Pakistani Health Ministry has launched a program to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to gather statistics on iodized salt in the country, according to The Tribune Express. The program received technical and financial support from The...

24. March 2011

Iodine, other micronutrients "could make a huge difference to the world's health": The Economist

"Stunningly widespread" bad diets among the world's poor people impose "long-term damage to societies as well as to individuals," argues The Economist, March 24. The analysis observers that "governments often try to deal with the problems of nutrition ...

20. March 2011

Only 32% of Ghanaians consume iodized salt

A new report from UNICEF-Ghana finds 68% of Ghanaians do not consume iodized salt and the same percentage do not eat seafood, a major source of dietary iodine, the Ghana News Agency reports. The UNICEF spokesperson attributed the low usage of iodized...

18. March 2011

Panic salt buying in China in wake of Japan disaster: UK's The Mail

The (UK) Mail reports "Panic buying as China sees hope in salt." A little knowledge can be dangerous, and Chinese consumers have been bombarded with admonitions to consume iodized salt, so it should probably have been foreseen that those worried about...

16. March 2011

Japanese nuclear power plant safety spurs sales of potassium iodate

The massive earthquake and tsumami that have devastated Japan and caused radioactive releases from the Fukushima nuclear generation facility have prompted a spike of sales of potassium iodate and potassium iodide tablets worldwide, Meaghan Ringwelski...

13. March 2011

Russian, Ukrainian market interests fight iodized salt

The two largest countries in Eastern Europe are also the two with the biggest IDD problems. In Russia and Ukraine, efforts to promote use of iodized salt have been thwarted by pharmaceutical companies, salt produces and some food processors who favor a...

09. March 2011

IDD in lambs: the new "canary in the mine"?

A new study in rural southeastern Australia will study lamb mortality in the wake of drought conditions, reports Australia's ABC network. Animal health problems began last year with observed iodine deficiency, a rarity in the area. Veterinarians and...

07. March 2011

Australian study finds mandating iodized salt in bread not enough; pregnant women need more iodine

An article in the Medical Journal of Australia reports that a study of 86 pregnant women found that use of iodized salt in bread, mandated by regulation, is insufficient and, in fact, has had no appreciable benefit for pregnant women. The researchers...

06. March 2011

2.1 million Pakistani newborns mentally deficient due to IDD

A new Pakistan national nutrition survey discovered by 36% of mothers and 23% of pre-school children are severely iodine deficient, according to an Associated Press of Pakistan report. Only 17% of Pakistani households are using iodized salt. "Around ...

02. March 2011

20-country study confirms effectiveness of mandatory salt iodization

UNICEF announced March 2 a new regional study in Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States showing that 18 of 20 countries studied have reaped significant benefits by requiring universal salt iodization. Russia and Ukraine...

01. March 2011

Iodine demand bounces, prices rise

Resurgent global economic activity has restored eroded demand for iodine while "production remained flat with no major capacity expansions," Industrial Minerals reported for its March edition. The growing demand is not attributable to increased salt...

24. February 2011

Iodine Deficiency Discovered in Northern Paris

Researchers routinely discover IDD in remote, underdeveloped areas, but it may be a case of looking where the light is best. A research team from the University of Paris (France) has studies a population near Paris and discovered widespread iodine...

18. February 2011

Further study needed of moderate iodine deficiency on neurodevelopment of children: Skeaff

There is unequivocal evidence that severe iodine deficiency in pregnancy impairs brain development in the child, according to ICCIDD member Dr. Sheila A. Skeaff of the University of Otago in New Zealand writing in Nutrients. However, only two ...

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