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Iodine to be added to Bread in Australia
Information provided by Disabled World - Published: 2009-01-03
Two out of three women of child-bearing age are not getting enough of the vital mineral iodine needed for a baby's healthy brain development, Australian research shows.
TWO out of three women of child-bearing age are not getting enough of the vital mineral iodine needed for a baby's healthy brain development, Australian research shows.
Deficiency rates were lower among children, with ten per cent of toddlers not getting enough iodine, but they were significantly higher among women aged 19 to 49.
"Insufficient iodine intake, particularly in groups such as pregnant women, babies, and young children, is of great concern,'' said Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing Senator Jan McLucas, who released the results.
Senator McLucas said the findings confirmed the necessity for the mandatory addition of iodine to bread in Australia, which would reduce the incidence of inadequate iodine intake to 5 per cent.
Mild to moderate iodine deficiency can result in children having learning difficulties and can affect the development of motor skills and hearing. In extreme cases, children can be born with severe intellectual disability.
A government food scientist, Paul Brent, said "While salt iodisation might produce a slightly better coverage for adults, salty diets were not good for the health and analyses had shown using salt could end up delivering risky levels of iodine to children."
The Australian Total Diet Study tested levels of the trace elements selenium, chromium, molybdenum, nickel and iodine in 96 types of food. It was necessary to strike a balance. "Bread is eaten by enough people to have a real effect," said Dr Brent, the chief scientist at Food Standards Australia New Zealand.
- This web page is from the Disabled World Medical Research section which provides: Information and latest developments in medical research and clinical trials regarding health and disability including stemcell research.
