• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.56-66
• /
• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Despite successes recorded in combating iodine deficiency, more than 2 billion people are still at risk of iodine deficiency disorders. Rural landlocked and mountainous areas of developing countries are the hardest hit, hence the need to explore and advance novel strategies such as biofortification. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We evaluated adoption, purchase, and consumption of iodine biofortified vegetable legumes (IBVL) using the theory of protection motivations (PMT) integrated with an economic valuation technique. A total of 1,200 participants from three land-locked locations in East Africa were recruited via multi-stage cluster sampling, and data were collected using two, slightly distinct, questionnaires incorporating PMT constructs. The survey also elicited preferences for iodine biofortified foods when offered at a premium or discount. Determinants of protection motivations and preferences for iodine biofortified foods were assessed using path analysis modelling and two-limit Tobit regression, respectively. RESULTS: Knowledge of iodine, iodine-health link, salt iodization, and biofortification was very low, albeit lower at the household level. Iodine and biofortification were not recognized as nutrient and novel approaches, respectively. On the other hand, severity, fear, occupation, knowledge, iodine status, household composition, and self-efficacy predicted the intention to consume biofortified foods at the household level; only vulnerability, self-efficacy, and location were the most crucial elements at the school level. In addition, results demonstrated a positive willingness-to-pay a premium or acceptance of a lesser discount for biofortification. Furthermore, preference towards iodine biofortified foods was a function of protection motivations, severity, vulnerability, fear, response efficacy, response cost, knowledge, iodine status, gender, age. and household head. CONCLUSIONS: Results lend support for prevention of iodine deficiency in unprotected populations through biofortification; however 'threat' appraisal and socio-economic predictors are decisive in designing nutrition interventions and stimulating uptake of biofortification. In principle, the contribution is threefold: 1) Successful application of the integrated model to guide policy formulation; 2) Offer guidance to stakeholders to identify and tap niche markets; 3) stimulation of rural economic growth around school feeding programmes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.16
• /
• pp.6643-6647
• /
• 2014

The breast and the thyroid are hormone responsive organs that are closely related with changes of endocrine function and glandular disease. An association between thyroid disorders and breast cancer (BC) risk has been suggested, although the results are inconclusive. The purpose of the present study was to summarize evidence supporting a relationship between BC and the level of thyroid hormones and antibodies. The MEDLINE and EMBASE electronic databases were searched for studies published between 2000 and 2014. The pooled effects were presented as weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using fixed or random effect models. We summarized the results of 8 cross-sectional studies with 4, 189 participants. The overall pooled results showed that the levels of $FT_3$ and $FT_4$ were significantly increased in patients with BC (WMD=1.592 pmol/l; 95% CI: 0.15-3.033 and WMD=0.461 ng/dl; 95% CI: 0.015-0.906; p=0.043). The TPOAb level in patients with BC was higher than that in the control group (WMD=81.4 IU/ml; 95% CI: 78.7-84.0; p=0.000). The overall pooled results of the TgAb with random effects analyses showed that the TgAb level was significantly increased in patients with BC (WMD=101.3 IU/ml; 95% CI: 48.7-153.9; p=0.000). The present results indicated that the serum levels of $FT_3$, TPOAb and TgAb are significantly higher in patients with breast cancer than in healthy controls.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.106-110
• /
• 2013

Purpose: We designed our study to evaluate the hypothesis that gastric cancer is correlated with iodine deficiency or thyroid dysfunction. Materials and Methods: We investigated the total body iodine reserve, thyroid function status and autoimmune disorder in 40 recently diagnosed gastric adenocarcinoma cases versus 80 healthy controls. The participants came from a region with high gastric cancer rate but sufficient iodine supply due to salt iodination. The investigation included urine iodine level, thyroid gland clinical and ultrasonographic examination, and thyroid function tests. Results: Goiter was detected more frequently in the case group (P=0.001); such a finding, however, was not true for lower than normal urine iodine levels. The free T3 mean level was significantly lower in the case group compared to the control group (P=0.005). Conclusions: The higher prevalence of goiter rather than low levels of urinary iodine in gastric adenocarcinoma cases suggests that goiter, perhaps due to protracted but currently adjusted iodine deficiency, is more likely to be associated with gastric adenocarcinoma compared to the existing iodine deficiency itself.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.218-228
• /
• 2012

The prevalence rate of thyroid dysfunction (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism) has increased within the Korean population and seems to be affected by iodine dietary habits. Some studies reported that the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction increase both in the area of iodine deficiency and excess. In this study, we tried to discover the difference in iodine intake, anthropometric measurements, and blood parameters between male subjects with or without subclinical thyroid dysfunction. A total of 5,249 subjects (Euthyroid: 4706, SubHypo: 454, SubHyper: 89) were used in this study. There were no significant differences in BMI, body fat, visceral fat, waist circumference, SBP, DBP, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, TG, fasting serum glucose, HbA1c, alcohol intake, however significant differences were noticed in both age and smoking status. Through a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), iodine intake per day was estimated. The average iodine intake was similar (SubHypo $392.9{\pm}279.0{\mu}g$, Euthyroid $376.5{\pm}281.7{\mu}g$, SubHyper $357.3{\pm}253.8 {\mu}g$) among groups. The main source of iodine intake was eggs (52.8%, 54.2%, 52.4%) followed by milk (16.3%, 15.8%, 17.8%), then sea mustard & sea tangle (12.4%, 11.9%, 11.6%). The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism was higher in subjects whose intake was higher than the recommended nutrient intake (RNI). These results suggest that the excess consumption of iodine intake may act as one of the risk factors regarding thyroid dysfunction in Korea. Therefore, an adequate amount of iodine intake is necessary in order to prevent subclinical thyroid dysfunction and clinical thyroid dysfunction.

• Nutritional Sciences
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.196-199
• /
• 2005

A study during second trimester of pregnancy was conducted among 100 women from a population with mild to moderate deficient iodine intake (median 7 ${\mu}g$/L)to monitor the changes in serum free thyroxin ($FT_4$), triiodothyionine ($T_3$) and thyrtropin (TSH). Thyroid related hormones were assessed using radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunoradiometricassay (IRMA). As compared with non pregnant women, mean $FT_4$ levels decreased, $T_3$ levels increased and TSH levels were slightly depressed in pregnant women. Mean $FT_4$ concentration reached its highest level in the $4^{th}$ month and linearly decreased until the $6^{th}$ month. Mean $T_3$ level remained almost constant during $2^{nd}$ trimester of pregnancy. Mean TSH level remained unaltered during the $4^{th}$ and $5^{th}$ months and was slightly lower than that for the control group. However, these differences were statistically insignificant At the end of the second trimester, hypothyroxinemia and $T_3$ levels greater than the upper limit of the laboratory reference range were found in $34\%$ and $38\%$ of women, respectively. These changes in thyroid hormones reflect typical adaptations of the thyroid gland during pregnancy to the limited availability of iodine.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.167-171
• /
• 1984

Soft X-ray is useful to identify the quality of fresh ginseng causing the inside cavity or white pan of red ginseng. The portion of low mass density identified by the difference in absorption of soft X-ray showed lower dry matter density and less or no response to iodine test indicating less accumulation or excess consumption of starch. The inside white part of red ginseng absorbed less X-ray than the normal part did. Probability for identification of the inside cavity or white at fresh ginseng was rather high (80-90%) in screen observation than f'3m reading and seemed to be increased further by using the developed screen and with training. The inside white of red ginseng appeared to be due to starch deficiency. Dry matter density appeared to be better than fresh weight density for the quality criterion.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.25-56
• /
• 2000

Trace element are involved in enzymatic activities, immunological reactions. physiological mechanisms. Deficiency in some trace elements, such as iron and iodine. is still an important health problem, The role of trace elements deficiency is suspected in various clinical situations and is now confirmed by well designed supplementation studies. However, the importance of trace elements as chinese herbal constituents is not sufficiently appreciated by the oriental medical profession, although in recent years a significant increase of new finding on their essential character in chinese herbal medicine occurred. It is well known that herbal medicine contains a variety of trace elements which would show therapeutic effects with active components in herbal medicine . In china, recent work showed some positive correlation between trace element and traditional chinese medicine (TCM) in terms of therapeutic effects even if their role in therapeutic effects is still obscure. In korea, not much attention has been on the therapeutic importance of trace element contained in herbal medicine Here, the therapeutic effects of trace element in TCM were reviewed and summarized. 1. Iron, copper, zinc and manganese are mainly contained in TCM. In addtion, chromium, magnesium, molybdenum, nickel, alminium, cobalt, arsenic and selenium has been studied for their therapeutic effects 2. Zinc, is decreased in patients who have deficiency of kindney(腎虛) and chronic disease. Fe is decreased in patients who have deficiency of blood(血虛). However copper is increased in patients who have chronic disease and hepatic disease.3 Iron concentration is high in herbs used for tonifying and nourishing yin or blood(補陰補血藥) Zinc concentration is high also in herb used for tonifying kidiney and vital essence(補腎補精藥). In addition. copper concentration Is high in herb used for replenishing qi(補氣藥) 4 In herbal drugs, the therapeutic substances in TCM are not only organic but also inorganic. It seems that trace elements would be one of components in herb for its therapeutic effects. This indicates that therapeutic effects of TCM should be extended not only to herb itself, bur also to trace elements contained in herb.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 1989

The occurrence of thyroid disorders is connected with iodine deficiency, defective synthesis or releasing of thyroid hormone and endemicity. Genetic factors are known as a single gene defects, interaction of multiple genes with environmental factors, as well as chromosomal aberrations. Diofnosis thyroid disorders is enforced by I-131 uptake test, thyroid scanning with I-131 or Tc-99 m and serum radioimmunoassays of T3, T4, free T4 and TSH. They were largely classified as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, simple goiter and normal. The pedigree of 58 families was drawn by propositus, and then the correlation between thyroid disorders and TSH levels was analyzed. The results are as follows: 1) The offsprings and their mothers of 15 families were hypothyroidism, THS level was 5 folds for offsprings and 4 folds for mothers in comparison with control group. 2) 13 families were hyperthyyroidism in siblings but their mothers were normal in thyroid function, TSH level of the siblings was lower than control group. 3) Though the offsprings and their mothers of 10 families were similar to TSH level of control group, they are all simple goiter, familial thyroid disorders, in other thyroid function test. The familial thyroid disorders suggested that these transmitted from mothers to offsprings with X-linked dominant or autosomal dominant inheritance.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 1992

For the world as a whole, many of the trends in health are towards improvement, especially in terms of increasing life expectancy and decreasing infant mortality. By the year 2000 we expect some diseases such as poliomyelitis to be eradicated, and others, such as leprosy, measles and iodine deficiency disorders, to have been brought under virtually complete control. For this country, the situation will probably soon be like that of the OECD-countries, with a life expectancy for both men and women of over 75 years, 12% or more of the population in the age group of 65 and over, and 75% of the population living in cities. Once those levels have been reached, however, change becomes much more gradual. In this paper I will mention some of the health benefits we now enjoy as a result of rapid development, as well as some of the new problems we now face. I will then attempt to show how health promotion is a response to this new situation and how it can be used in some particular dimensions of modem life. (omitted)

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.13
• /
• pp.5187-5194
• /
• 2014

Background: Numerous studies have suggested that selenium deficiency may be associated with an increased risk for several types of cancer, but few have focused on thyroid cancer. Materials and Methods: We examined the association between post-diagnostic fingernail selenium levels and differentiated thyroid cancer risk in a French Polynesian matched case-control study. Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: The median selenium concentration among controls was $0.76{\mu}g/g$. Significantly, we found no association between fingernail selenium levels and thyroid cancer risk after conditioning on year of birth and sex and additionally adjusting for date of birth (highest versus lowest quartile: odds-ratio=1.12, 95% confidence interval: 0.66-1.90; p-trend=0.30). After additional adjustment for other covariates, this association remained non-significant (p-trend=0.60). When restricting the analysis to thyroid cancer of 10 mm or more, selenium in nails was non-significantly positively linked to thyroid cancer risk (p-trend=0.09). Although no significant interaction was evidenced between iodine in nails and selenium in nails effect (p=0.70), a non-significant (p-trend =0.10) positive association between selenium and thyroid cancer risk was seen in patients with less than 3 ppm of iodine in nails. The highest fingernail selenium concentration in French Polynesia was in the Marquises Islands ($M=0.87{\mu}g/g$) and in the Tuamotu-Gambier Archipelago ($M=0.86{\mu}g/g$). Conclusions: Our results do not support, among individuals with sufficient levels of selenium, that greater long-term exposure to selenium may reduce thyroid cancer risk. Because these findings are based on post-diagnostic measures, studies with prediagnostic selenium are needed for corroboration.