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Iodine deficiency status in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: a systematic review

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Abstract

Iodine deficiency is a global public health issue because iodine plays a major role in the thyroid hormone synthesis and is essential for normal neurological development. This review summarizes the publications on iodine status in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries. All related studies available in main national and international databases were systematically searched using some specific keywords to find article published between 1909 and 2015. The prevention of iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) in the WHO EMR countries is currently under control without significant side effects. Mild to severe IDDs exist in some countries of the Middle East, due to lack of effective iodine supplementation program, but the Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Bahrain and Tunisia have achieved the goal of universal salt iodization. Overall, despite enormous efforts to control IDDs, still IDD remains a serious public health problem in some countries of the region, requiring urgent control and prevention measures.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge Ms. Niloofar Shiva for critical editing of English grammar and syntax of the manuscript.

Funding

The study was funded by the Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cellular and Molecular Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Masoumeh Mohammadi & Mehdi Hedayati

  2. Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Fereidoun Azizi

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  1. Masoumeh Mohammadi
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Correspondence to Mehdi Hedayati.

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Mohammadi, M., Azizi, F. & Hedayati, M. Iodine deficiency status in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: a systematic review. Environ Geochem Health 40, 87–97 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-017-9911-z

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