Iodine and human health, the role of environmental geochemistry and diet, a review

Summary

This narrative review by Fuge and Johnson synthesises the environmental geochemistry underpinning iodine availability in food systems and its implications for human health. The paper likely explores how soil iodine content, water chemistry, and agricultural practices influence dietary iodine intake, and how geographic variation in environmental iodine relates to the epidemiology of iodine deficiency disorders globally. As a cross-disciplinary review spanning geochemistry, soil science, nutrition, and public health, it addresses the often-overlooked role of landscape-scale factors in determining population iodine nutritional status.

Regional applicability

In the United Kingdom, iodine intake is generally adequate in most populations owing to historical iodination of animal feeds and imported foods, though some subgroups (notably pregnant women and vegans) remain at risk. This review's findings on environmental geochemistry and dietary pathways remain applicable to understanding UK iodine nutrition resilience and identifying at-risk populations, particularly as food import patterns and agricultural practices evolve.

Key measures

Iodine concentration in soils, water, and food; dietary iodine intake; iodine deficiency disorder prevalence; human thyroid function and health outcomes

Outcomes reported

The review examines relationships between environmental iodine geochemistry, dietary iodine intake pathways, and human health outcomes. It likely synthesises evidence on iodine deficiency disorders and the role of soil and food system factors in determining population iodine status.

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