Author
M. Frigeri
Bio: M. Frigeri is an academic researcher from University of Pisa. The author has contributed to research in topics: Iodine deficiency & Iodine. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 9 publications receiving 214 citations.
Topics: Iodine deficiency, Iodine, Population, Iodised salt, Dietary Iodine
Papers
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TL;DR: The role of voluntary iodine prophylaxis was assessed in a small rural community relatively segregated, in which genetic and other environmental factors have not substantially changed between the 2 surveys, and the benefits of correcting iodine deficiency far outweighs the risk of development of thyroid autoimmunity and mild hypothyroidism in youngsters.
Abstract: Context: Iodine deficiency disorders are a major public health problem, and programs have been implemented to improve iodine nutrition. Objective: The objective of the study was to verify the effects of voluntary iodine prophylaxis in a small rural community (Pescopagano, Italy). Design: The design of the study was the evaluation of the prevalence of thyroid disorders 15 years after a previous survey conducted before iodine prophylaxis. Setting: The setting for this study was a general community survey. Participants: One thousand one hundred forty-eight residents were examined in 2010 and 1411 in 1995. Results: In 2010, 757 of 1148 subjects (65.9%) routinely used iodized salt, urinary iodine excretion being significantly higher than in 1955 (median 98.0 μg/L, vs 55.0 μg/L, P < .0001). The prevalence of goiter was lower in 2010 than in 1995 (25.8% vs 46.1%, P < .0001), mainly due to the reduction of diffuse goiter (10.3% vs 34.0%, P < .0001). In 2010 vs 1995, thyroid autonomy in subjects younger than 45 ye...
100 citations
TL;DR: Iodine-induced thyroid autoimmunity is related to TgAb and the unmasking of a cryptic epitope on Tg contributes to this relationship in humans.
Abstract: Context: The mechanisms linking thyroid autoimmunity and iodine use in humans are unknown. Objective: Our aim was to correlate iodine intake, thyroid autoimmunity, and recognition of thyroglobulin (Tg) epitopes after implementation of iodine prophylaxis. Setting: The general community living in an Italian village was evaluated. Main Outcome Measures: Thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TgAb), thyroperoxidase autoantibodies (TPOAb), and urinary iodine excretion were assessed in 906 iodized salt users (IS-users) and 389 nonusers (IS-nonusers). Ultrasound (US) was performed to identify thyroid hypoechogenicity, suggestive of Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT). TgAb epitope pattern in 16 IS-users and 17 IS-nonusers was evaluated by an inhibition binding assay to Tg, using human monoclonal TgAb-Fab directed to A, B, C, and D epitopes on Tg. Results: Median urinary iodine excretion was slightly higher in IS-users than in IS-nonusers (112.0 μg/L vs 86.5 μg/L; P < .01). TgAb, and not TPOAb, was more frequent in IS-users (18.9%...
67 citations
TL;DR: Biofortification of vegetables with iodine provides a mild but significative increase in UI concentration and, together with the habitual use of iodized salt, may contribute to improve the iodine nutritional status of the population without risks of iodine excess.
Abstract: Background: Iodine deficiency is the result of insufficient intake of dietary iodine and as a consequence causes multiple adverse effects. About 2 billion individuals in the world are affected by iodine deficiency. It has been found that the most effective way to control iodine deficiency is through the universal salt iodization. However, salt iodization alone may not be sufficient to assure adequate iodine nutrition. In most industrialized countries, excess consumption of salt has become recognized as a health risk. Therefore, biofortification of vegetables with iodine offers an excellent opportunity to increase iodine intake. Aim and Methods: The aim of this study was to test the efficiency of a new model of iodine prophylaxis in a group of 50 healthy volunteers through the intake of vegetables (potatoes, cherry tomatoes, carrots, and green salad) fortified with iodine. Each serving of vegetables consisted of 100 g of potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, or salad containing 45 mg of iodine (30% of the Recommend...
48 citations
TL;DR: Iodine supplementation of dairy goat diets can increase milk iodine content without adverse effects on milk production traits, and iodine enrichment in milk was approximately 31% in groups 1 and 2 compared with the control group.
22 citations
TL;DR: A sizable proportion of the population, especially girls, appeared to be at risk of iodine inadequacy, and the simple measurement of UIC could lead to underestimation of the occurrence of iodine deficiency in younger children, because of the age-related smaller urine volumes producing spuriously higher iodine concentrations.
11 citations
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TL;DR: In the developed world, the prevalence of undiagnosed thyroid disease is likely falling owing to widespread thyroid function testing and relatively low thresholds for treatment initiation, however, continued vigilance against iodine deficiency remains essential in developed countries, particularly in Europe.
Abstract: Thyroid hormones are essential for growth, neuronal development, reproduction and regulation of energy metabolism. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are common conditions with potentially devastating health consequences that affect all populations worldwide. Iodine nutrition is a key determinant of thyroid disease risk; however, other factors, such as ageing, smoking status, genetic susceptibility, ethnicity, endocrine disruptors and the advent of novel therapeutics, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, also influence thyroid disease epidemiology. In the developed world, the prevalence of undiagnosed thyroid disease is likely falling owing to widespread thyroid function testing and relatively low thresholds for treatment initiation. However, continued vigilance against iodine deficiency remains essential in developed countries, particularly in Europe. In this report, we review the global incidence and prevalence of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, highlighting geographical differences and the effect of environmental factors, such as iodine supplementation, on these data. We also highlight the pressing need for detailed epidemiological surveys of thyroid dysfunction and iodine status in developing countries.
562 citations
TL;DR: Optimisation of population iodine intake is an important component of preventive health care to reduce the prevalence of thyroid disorders.
441 citations
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors found that increased iodine intake in an iodine-deficient population is associated with a small increase in the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism and thyroid autoimmunity; whether these increases are also transient is unclear.
Abstract: Iodine deficiency early in life impairs cognition and growth, but iodine status is also a key determinant of thyroid disorders in adults. Severe iodine deficiency causes goitre and hypothyroidism because, despite an increase in thyroid activity to maximise iodine uptake and recycling in this setting, iodine concentrations are still too low to enable production of thyroid hormone. In mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency, increased thyroid activity can compensate for low iodine intake and maintain euthyroidism in most individuals, but at a price: chronic thyroid stimulation results in an increase in the prevalence of toxic nodular goitre and hyperthyroidism in populations. This high prevalence of nodular autonomy usually results in a further increase in the prevalence of hyperthyroidism if iodine intake is subsequently increased by salt iodisation. However, this increase is transient because iodine sufficiency normalises thyroid activity which, in the long term, reduces nodular autonomy. Increased iodine intake in an iodine-deficient population is associated with a small increase in the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism and thyroid autoimmunity; whether these increases are also transient is unclear. Variations in population iodine intake do not affect risk for Graves' disease or thyroid cancer, but correction of iodine deficiency might shift thyroid cancer subtypes toward less malignant forms. Thus, optimisation of population iodine intake is an important component of preventive health care to reduce the prevalence of thyroid disorders.
269 citations
TL;DR: The last 10 years have seen some progress in understanding the etiology of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), and the female preponderance can now be explained - at least in part - by fetal microchimerism and X-chromosome inactivation.
Abstract: The last 10 years have seen some progress in understanding the etiology of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). The female preponderance can now be explained - at least in part - by fetal microchimerism and X-chromosome inactivation. The number of identified susceptibility genes for AITD is increasing (among others now including TSHR, TG, HLA, CTLA4, PTPN22, CD40, FCRL3, IL2RA, and FOXP3), but these genes together probably do not explain more than about 10% of the heritability of AITD. As twin studies indicate that genes contribute for 70% of AITD, it follows that there must be many more loci, each of them contributing a little. While the genetic studies have clarified why various autoimmune diseases so often cluster in the same patient, the molecular mechanism of action of these genetic polymorphisms (frequently located in introns) has hardly been explained. Polymorphisms in AITD susceptibility genes may become helpful in clinical practice, e.g. in assessing risk of recurrent Graves' hyperthyroidism (GH) after a course of antithyroid drugs. Moderate alcohol intake decreases the risk on overt GH and overt Hashimoto's hypothyroidism. Current smokers - as well known - are at increased risk for Graves' disease, but - surprisingly - at diminished risk for Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Low selenium and low vitamin D levels might increase the risk of developing AITD, but data are still inconclusive. Current options for preventive interventions in subjects at risk to develop AITD are very limited.
241 citations
TL;DR: Well-designed, prospective, randomized controlled trials that examine the effects of iodine supplementation on maternal thyroid function and infant neurobehavioral development in mildly to moderately iodine-deficient pregnant women are urgently needed.
208 citations