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Nutrition and Health (including climate and ecological aspects)

Urinary sodium and iodine concentrations among Belgian adults: results from the first national Health Examination Survey

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 75, pages 689–696 (2021)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives

Iodine deficiency and excessive salt intakes have adverse health consequences. The objective was to measure sodium and iodine concentrations in urine spot samples among a representative sample of Belgian adults and compare those to World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.

Subjects/methods

Spot urine samples were collected in 2018 from participants of the Belgian Health Examination Survey. Iodine and sodium concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and ion selective electrodes respectively. Tanaka and INTERSALT equations were used to predict 24-h urinary sodium excretion using sodium and creatinine concentration in spot samples, sex, and measured height and weight.

Results

Median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) among adults (n = 1092) was 93.6 µg/L, indicating mild iodine deficiency according to WHO thresholds. Median UIC among participants who reported thyroid problems over the last year was significantly higher than among those who did not report thyroid problems (104.1 µg/L versus UIC = 92.2 µg/L, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in median UIC between sexes, age groups, and regions. The average salt intake among Belgian adults (n = 1120) was 8.3 ± 0.1 g/day using the Tanaka equation and 9.4 ± 0.1 g/day using the INTERSALT equation. For both equations, <5% of the population met the recommended WHO upper salt intake level of 5 g/day.

Conclusions

Iodine nutrition in the Belgian adult, nonpregnant population likely indicates mild iodine deficiency as the median UIC was below the WHO threshold for iodine sufficiency. Salt intake was substantially higher than the WHO recommendations. Further policy efforts are needed to optimize iodine and reduce salt intake in Belgium.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Frédéric Van Steen for his skillful technical assistance for iodine analysis. The authors thank all individuals who participated in the BELHES2018.

Funding

The BELHES2018 was funded by the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (RIZIV/INAMI).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service of Lifestyle and Chronic Diseases, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium

    Stefanie Vandevijvere, Pauline Hautekiet & Johan Van der Heyden

  2. Service of Trace Elements and Nanomaterials, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium

    Ann Ruttens, Cédric Marien & Joris Van Loco

  3. Hôpitaux Iris Sud, Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium

    Alain Wilmet

  4. Hôpital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium

    Rodrigo Moreno-Reyes

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  1. Stefanie Vandevijvere
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Contributions

SV performed the statistical analyses and wrote the paper. AR, AW, CM, and JVL performed the laboratory analyses. PH organized the fieldwork of the BELHES2018. RM-R helped with interpretation of the iodine nutrition results. JVH coordinated the BELHES2018. All authors critically commented on and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Stefanie Vandevijvere.

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Vandevijvere, S., Ruttens, A., Wilmet, A. et al. Urinary sodium and iodine concentrations among Belgian adults: results from the first national Health Examination Survey. Eur J Clin Nutr 75, 689–696 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-00766-5

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