Iodine status and characteristics of Korean adolescents and their parents based on urinary iodine concentration: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Iodine is a major component of thyroid hormones. Both deficiency and excess of iodine are major risk factors for thyroid disease, making it important to accurately assess iodine level in the human body. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) is a commonly used measure of iodine status. However, there is little research on iodine status and related characteristics in Korean adolescents.
METHODS: Using data from the sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI) for the years 2013-2015, we analyzed UIC and thyroid function test results in adolescents aged 10-18 years and their parents. We also investigated the influence of socioeconomic factors and family history of thyroid disease on iodine status.
RESULTS: Mean UIC in Korean adolescents was 963.5±55.7 μg/L. Among evaluated subjects, 6.6%±1.0%, 29.8%±1.7%, and 63.9%±1.9% had low (UIC<100 μg/L), adequate (UIC: 100-299.9 μg/L), and excess (UIC≥300 μg/L) iodine concentrations, respectively. Based on regional trends, the incidence of iodine deficiency exceeded 10% in several regions, even though there was a dominance of regions with excess iodine. Parental UIC, female sex, average monthly income, and expenditure were all found to affect the iodine status of Korean adolescents.
CONCLUSION: Although regional differences exist, the iodine status in Korean adolescents is mainly affected by the eating habits of their families and socioeconomic factors. Therefore, monitoring of iodine status is necessary in this population.

Introduction

Thyroid hormones are involved in cellular metabolic processes such as bone growth, lipid metabolism, and enzymatic activity of hepatocytes. They also play an important role in brain development in infants and young children and growth during adolescence and puberty [1].

Iodine is a major nutritional component of thyroid hormones and is supplied by various food sources [2]. Thyroid hormones are synthesized by organification of iodide. Over 90% of ingested iodine is absorbed by the stomach and duodenum and ionized to iodide, which is then transported into thyrocytes by sodium/iodine symporters. Next, the iodide is transferred back to the iodine pool within the plasma by deiodinase. The half-life of iodine within the plasma is about 10 hours, which is shorter in the case of iodine deficiency [3].

Exposure of up to 1,100 μg/day of iodine is generally considered safe for healthy adults [4]. However, exposure to excess iodine in a short period can inhibit the synthesis of thyroid hormones through the acute Wolff-Chaikoff effect [5]. Additionally, consistent exposure to excess iodine can increase the risk of thyroid dysfunction [6]. Therefore, it is important to maintain appropriate iodine level within the body for good thyroid health.

An insufficient level of iodine is recognized as a major health issue. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations have recommended consistent monitoring of iodine status among people. Total goiter rate and thyroid ultrasound can be used to monitor iodine concentration [7], but urinary iodine concentration (UIC) has been the measure most commonly used to assess body iodine status following the introduction of iodized salt programs across many countries in the 1990s [8].

Over 90% of ingested iodine is excreted in the urine within 24–48 hours [9,10], making UIC an excellent marker of iodine status [8]. The WHO recommends using the UIC of spot urine as a marker for assessing body iodine status. The median UIC value is especially useful for assessing the iodine status of school-age children [11]. A study by Ascoli conducted in 186 regions across Central America before ionized salts were supplied in 1970 reported that UIC values less than 100 μg/L were indicative of iodine deficiency [8]. To eradicate iodine deficiency, a WHO/United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)/International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD) consultation in 1992 set the goal of maintaining a median UIC above 100 μg/L in school-age children and decreasing the population with a UIC less than 50 μg/L to less than 20% [11]. Since then, a country-by-country UIC assessment has been carried out on a world-wide scale, and data collected until 2011 covers 96.1% of the entire world population [12].

In 2013, Lee et al. [13] conducted a study of adolescents in several regions of Korea. These authors reported a median UIC of 438.8 μg/L among Korean adolescents and found Korea to be iodine-sufficient. However, to date, few investigations of the iodine status of Korean adolescents have been conducted at the national level.

Here, we analyzed the effects of regional, family, and socioeconomic factors on the body iodine status of Korean adolescents using data from the sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES VI) covering the years 2013–2015.

Materials and methods

1. Date source and participants

This study used data from KNHANES VI (2013–2015), a 2-stage, stratified, cluster sampling survey with districts and households as the primary and secondary units, respectively, to extract a sample representative of the Korean population aged one year and over. KNHANES VI randomly selected 20 sample households from 192 districts that were investigated on a yearly basis and evaluated all members of the selected households. The investigation included a health questionnaire, health examination, and nutrition surveys. Data on the number of family members, type of generation, and household income were collected from one adult (aged 19 years or older) of each household based on the health questionnaire and health examination surveys, which were conducted at a mobile health examination center. The nutrition survey was conducted by visiting the households.

Data on thyroid diseases were collected from the health questionnaire survey. Thyroid test results included data on levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab), and UIC. In this study, data from 1,034 adolescents aged 10–18 years who participated in the thyroid examination and their parents were analyzed.

2. Biochemical analysis

Blood samples were collected from the antecubital vein after a night of fasting. Samples were centrifuged for at least 30 minutes and transferred to the laboratory. Samples were analyzed within 24 hours of collection at the central lab in Seoul. Levels of TSH, fT4, and TPO-Ab were analyzed using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. TSH was measured using the E-TSH kit (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) with normal reference values of 0.35–5.50 mIU/L. Free thyroxine was measured using the E-Free T4 kit (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) with normal reference values of 0.89–1.76 ng/mL. TPOAb level was measured using an E-Anti-TPO kit (Roche Diagnostics), and values were considered normal if they were lower than 34.0 IU/mL. Single random urine samples were obtained from 1,034 adolescents aged 10–18 years. UIC was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS, PerkinElmer, Waltham, MA, USA) using an iodine standard (Inorganic Venture, Christiansburg, VA, USA) and is reported as μg/L. The reported results met the guidelines regarding accuracy, general chemistry, special immunology, quality control, and quality assurance set forth by the College of American Pathologists.

3. Definitions

1) Categorization by UIC

Subjects were divided into 3 groups based on the School Age Children Epidemiological criteria established by the WHO.2) While UIC<100 μg/L was defined as iodine deficiency, a UIC ranging from 100–299.9 μg/L was considered indicative of an adequate iodine level, while a UIC ≥300 μg/L marked iodine excess. In this study, UIC ≥3,000 μg/L was considered extreme iodine excess.

2) Regional iodine status

Iodine status was investigated in 7 metropolitan cities with a population size ≥1,000,000, including Seoul and 9 provinces. Regions were divided into urban and rural regions. Small cities and large cities, including metropolitan cities, were classified as urban, while the remaining regions were classified as rural.

3) Family history of thyroid disease

A patient was deemed to have a family history of thyroid disease if at least one person in the family (parents, grandparents, or parent sibling) had been diagnosed with thyroid disease by a physician.

4) Family structure

A family consisting of parents living with their unmarried children was categorized as "both parents," while single mothers/fathers living with their unmarried children, grandparents living with their unmarried grandchildren, or single grandparents living with their unmarried grandchildren were categorized as "other families."

5) Average monthly household income

Total household income was determined by adding all forms of income including salary, property income, pension, interest, and government subsidies. Average monthly household income was calculated based on total household income in the previous year. If the total household income in the previous year could not be calculated, the family was queried directly.

6) Income quartile

Income levels were divided into 4 quartiles (the first being the lowest and fourth being the highest), and the income range for each quartile was determined according to average monthly household income. Although there were differences in income levels between years, monthly income for the first to the fourth quartiles ranged from 0–761.2 thousand Korean won (KRW) (714 US dollars [USD]), 761.2–1,574.9 thousand KRW (714–1,477.4 USD), 1,575.9–2,687.7 thousand KRW (1,477.4–2,521.3 USD), and 2,687.7 and above thousand won (2,521.3 USD), respectively (basic exchange rate: 1 USD=1.066 thousand KRW as of December 29, 2017).

7) Basic livelihood security recipients

Under the National Basic Living Security Act, basic living subsidies are provided to families in need of help to live independently. Eligible recipients are allowed to refer others who are qualified to receive these subsidies. In this study, basic livelihood security recipients were defined as those who were currently receiving these subsidies or had received them in the past.

8) Obesity

In accordance with the standard growth chart for children and adolescents (2007), obesity in either sex was defined as body mass index (BMI) in the 95th percentile or above or as BMI ≥25 kg/m2 [14].

4. Statistical analysis

To account for the complex survey design, design variables including primary sampling unit and strata were used in all statistical analyses. Sample weights were used to produce unbiased national estimates. All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 23.0 (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA). Results are expressed as weighted mean±standard error (SE) or weighted percent±SE. Among the participants' general characteristics, socio-economic status and thyroid function as continuous variables were compared using complex sample general linear models, while categorical variables were compared using logistic regression. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for the association between iodine status and socio-economic variables. P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

1. Iodine status in Korean adolescents

Mean UIC in Korean adolescents was 963.5±55.7 μg/L. While 6.6%±1.0% of subjects had iodine deficiency with a mean UIC of 67.7±3.5 μg/L, 29.8%±1.7% had adequate levels of iodine with a mean UIC of 203.5±3.7 μg/L, and 63.9%±1.9% had excess iodine levels with a mean UIC of 1,412.8±78.4 μg/L. Extreme iodine excess was seen in 6.6%±0.9% of participants with a mean UIC of 5,575.1±343.1 μg/L (Tables 1, 2).

Table 1.

Regional distribution of iodine status among Korean adolescents

	Iodine deficiency (UIC<100 μg/L) (n=58)	Adequate iodine (UIC 100–299.9 μg/L) (n=296)	Iodine excess[*] (UIC≥300 μg/L) (n=680)	Extreme iodine excess (UIC≥3,000 μg/L) (n=68)
Metropolitan cities and provinces in Korea
Seoul	6.0%±2.3%	37.5%±3.7%	56.5%±4.3%	6.1%±2.3%
Busan	9.5%±4.3%	34.8%±7.3%	55.7%±9.8%	0%
Daegu	7.9%±3.9%	38.3%±9.4%	53.9%±9.9%	5.1%±3.5%
Incheon	10.2%±5.1%	16.6%±5.6%	73.2%±6.8%	11.2%±5.1%
Gwangju	11.4%±6.4%	12.5%±5.4%	76.1%±7.4%	6.6%±4.8%
Daejeon	1.2%±1.2%	29.0%±9.6%	69.8%±9.9%	2.9%±2.1%
Ulsan	0%	32.8%±9.1%	67.2%±9.1%	11.2%±6.3%
Gyeonggi-do	5.5%±1.7%	23.6%±3.0%	70.9%±3.3%	8.2%±1.9%
Gangwon-do	3.0%±3.1%	48.4%±11.3%	48.5%±11.2%	2.2%±2.3%
Chungcheongbuk-do	8.3%±5.5%	25.0%±9.3%	66.7%±8.0%	2.8%±2.9%
Chungcheongnam-do	13.0%±7.7%	36.7%±8.3%	50.3%±8.0%	4.8%±2.7%
Jeollabuk-do	4.0%±3.1%	40.3%±10.9%	55.7%±11.3%	0%
Jeollanam-do	6.3%±6.0%	38.2%±11.4%	55.5%±10.6%	12.0±6.7%
Gyeongsangbuk-do	9.2±5.8%	29.0%±8.3%	61.8%±9.4%	10.9%±6.0%
Gyeongsangnam-do	9.2%±4.4%	22.0%±6.1%	68.8%±7.9%	3.6%±2.5%
Jeju-do	5.0%±4.3%	26.0%±11.2%	68.9%±12.0%	17.4%±12.7%
Type of dwelling	7.0%±1.1%	28.4%±1.9%	64.6%±2.1%	6.9%±1.1%
Urban area	4.9%±2.2%	36.1%±3.9%	59.0%±4.4%	5.2%±1.9%
Rural area	6.6%±1.3%	28.1%±2.3%	65.3%±2.5%	7.0%±1.3%
Small cities and towns	6.7%±1.5%	32.2%±2.5%	61.1%±2.9%	5.9%±1.4%
Above metropolitan cities	6.6%±1.0%	29.8%±1.7%	63.6%±1.9%	6.6%±0.9%
Total	6.0%±2.3%	37.5%±3.7%	56.5%±4.3%	6.1%±2.3%

Values are presented as weighted percent±standard error.

UIC, urinary iodine concentration.

Iodine excess included extreme iodine excess.

Table 2.

Indicators of thyroid function based on iodine status in Korean adolescents and their families

Variable	Iodine deficiency (UIC<100 μg/L) (n=58)	Adequate iodine (UIC 100–299.9 μg/L) (n=296)	Iodine excess (UIC≥300 μg/L) (n=680)	P-value
UIC (µ/L)	67.7±3.5	203.5±3.7	1412.8±78.4	0.000
Free T4 (ng/dL)	1.26±0.03	1.37±0.03	1.28±0.01	0.035
TSH (µIU/mL)	2.95±0.21	2.59±0.11	2.95±0.08	0.016
TPO-Ab (IU/mL)	7.98±0.65	20.71±9.71	11.25±1.45	0.050
Maternal UIC (µ/L)	273.63±49.59	522.45±71.48	923.88±122.57	0.000
Maternal free T4 (ng/dL)	1.08±0.05	1.22±0.04	1.17±0.01	0.109
Maternal TSH (µIU/mL)	2.33±0.41	2.87±0.25	3.09±0.24	0.280
Maternal TPO-Ab (IU/mL)	31.52±13.79	22.64±8.22	56.96±22.23	0.336
Paternal UIC (µ/L)	232.40±44.20	467.69±82.35	780.07±88.60	0.000
Paternal free T4 (ng/dL)	1.35±0.06	1.27±0.02	1.25±0.02	0.229
Paternal TSH (µIU/mL)	3.01±0.47	2.40±0.18	2.70±0.17	0.276
Paternal TPO-Ab (IU/mL)	7.82±1.26	16.40±6.83	34.45±16.95	0.141
Family history of thyroid disease
Yes	7.8%±3.1%	25.0%±4.6%	67.2%±5.3%	0.567
No	6.5%±1.0%	30.3%±1.8%	63.2%±2.0%

Values are presented as mean±standard error or weighted percent±standard error.

UIC, urinary iodine concentration; free T4, free thyroxine; TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone; TPO-Ab, thyroid peroxidase antibody.

2. Regional iodine status

Table 1 shows the regional iodine status of Korean adolescents. Although iodine excess dominated across the country, a high incidence of iodine deficiency was observed in some regions. While Chungcheongnam-do had the highest incidence of iodine deficiency (13.0%±7.7%), that in in Gwangju and Incheon also exceeded 10%. While the highest incidence of extreme iodine excess was seen in Jeju-do (17.4%±12.7%), it exceeded 10% in Jeollanam-do, Ulsan, Incheon, and Gyeongsangbuk-do.

3. Markers associated with thyroid function and iodine status

The fT4 values were higher in the adequate iodine group than the other two groups, but all fT4 values were within the normal range. Similarly, although iodine-deficient and excess groups had higher TSH levels than the adequate iodine group, they were all within the normal ranges. No differences in TPO-Ab level were found among groups (Table 2).

4. UIC and thyroid function of the parents and iodine status

Maternal UIC values in the iodine deficient, adequate, and excess groups were 273.63±49.59 μg/L, 522.45±71.48 μg/L, and 923.88±122.57 μg/L, respectively. Paternal UIC values in the iodine deficient, adequate, and excess groups were 232.40±44.20 μg/L, 467.69±82.35 μg/L, and 780.07±88.60 μg/L, respectively. Both maternal and paternal UIC increased as the UIC of the offspring increased. However, no differences in maternal or paternal levels of TSH, free-T4, or TPO-Ab were observed among the groups (Table 2).

5. Socioeconomic conditions and iodine status

Table 3 summarizes the socio-economic characteristics of Korean adolescents based on iodine status.

Table 3.

General and socio-economic characteristics of Korean adolescents based on iodine status

Variable	Iodine deficiency (UIC<100 μg/L) (n=58)	Adequate iodine (UIC 100–299.9 μg/L) (n=296)	Iodine excess (UIC≥300 μg/L) (n=680)	P-value
Age (yr)	14.28±0.37	14.67±0.17	13.91±0.11	0.001
Sex
Male	5.2%±1.1%	31.3%±2.3%	63.5%±2.4%	0.147
Female	8.6%±1.7%	27.7%±2.3%	63.7%±2.7%
Obesity
Yes	7.9%±4.1%	32.0%±5.3%	60.1%±6.2%	0.833
No	6.5%±1.0%	29.5%±1.8%	64.0%±2.0%
Average monthly income and expenditure (1,000 KRW)	3,365.9±331.7	4,220.4±196.7	4,424.3±131.5	0.009
Income quartile				0.120
First (lowest)	12.9%±4.5%	34.7%±5.5%	52.4%±5.6%
Second	8.2%±2.1%	29.4%±3.5%	62.3%±3.6%
Third	5.9%±1.4%	30.5%±2.7%	63.5%±3.1%
Fourth (highest)	3.8%±1.4%	27.3%±3.1%	68.9%±3.2%
Basic livelihood security recipients
Yes	7.2%±3.1%	31.7±5.8%	61.1%±5.9%
No	6.5%±1.0%	29.5±1.8%	63.9%±2.0%	0.900
Family structure				0.504
Both parents	6.0%±1.1%	29.7%±2.0%	64.3%±2.2%
Other families	7.6%±2.4%	27.7%±4.1%	64.7%±4.4%

Values are presented as mean±standard error or weighted percent±standard error.

UIC, urinary iodine concentration; KRW, Korean won.

The average monthly household income was lowest in the iodine-deficient group (3,365.9±331.7 thousand KRW [3,157.5±311.2 USD]) compared to the adequate iodine group (4,220.4±196.7 thousand KRW [3,959.1±184.5 USD]) and excess iodine group (4,434.3±131.5 thousand KRW [4,160±123.4 USD]). No difference in UIC was found based on income quartile, basic livelihood security status, or family structure.

6. Multiple logistic regression analysis of risk factors for iodine deficiency and extreme excess

The risk of iodine deficiency was about 9 times higher among girls than boys. It decreased by 28.4% when average total household income increased by 1 million KRW (Table 4). The risk of extreme iodine excess increased by 3.5% for every 100 μg/L increase in maternal UIC (Table 5).

Table 4.

Multiple logistic regression analysis of risk factors associated with iodine deficiency

Variable	Odds ratio	95% CI	P-value
Female sex	9.076	1.775–46.400	0.009
Urban	0.357	0.460–2.798	0.322
Obesity	3.574	0.339–37.735	0.285
Age (yr)	1.033	0.810–1.319	0.789
Paternal UIC (100 µ/L)	0.712	0.473–1.074	0.104
Maternal UIC (100 µ/L)	0.825	0.587–1.159	0.263
Average monthly income and expenditure (1,000,000 KRW)	0.716	0.552–0.929	0.013

CI, confidence interval; UIC, urinary iodine concentration; KRW, Korean won.

Table 5.

Multiple logistic regression analysis of risk factors associated with extreme iodine excess

Variable	Odds ratio	95% CI	P-value
Female	0.806	0.301–2.154	0.663
Urban	1.315	0.226–7.652	0.757
Obesity	2.185	0.436–10.944	0.336
Age (yr)	0.782	0.590–1.037	0.086
Paternal UIC (100 µ/L)	1.006	0.963–1.051	0.781
Maternal UIC (100 µ/L)	1.035	1.001–1.070	0.045
Average monthly income and expenditure (1,000,000 KRW)	1.146	0.991–1.325	0.065

CI, confidence interval; UIC, urinary iodine concentration; KRW, Korean won.

Discussion

In this study, we investigated the iodine status of Korean adolescents and their parents using nation-wide data.

After salt iodization was introduced in the United States and Switzerland in 1920, the World Health Assembly endorsed Universal Salt Iodization (USI) and recommended including at least 20–40 mg of iodine per 1 kg of salt to satisfy iodine requirements [15]. Since the adoption of salt iodization, there have been consistent improvements in nutritional iodine in Africa, Switzerland, Europe, the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and the western Pacific region [16]. Level of iodine intake and iodine sources differ between countries and regions. While low iodine intake has been reported in most European countries and the United States, high iodine intake has been reported in Korea and Japan [17]. In countries where an iodized salt program has been implemented, iodized salt is the most important source of iodine [18]. In the United States, Canada, and industrialized European countries, dairy products such as milk, eggs, cereals, iodized salt, and bakery products are major sources of iodine [19]. For Koreans, the major sources of dietary iodine are seaweed (65.6%), salted vegetables (18.0%), fish (4.8%), milk and dairy products (2.9%), and grains (2.5%) [20]. In Korea, the daily recommended iodine intake was set to 90 μg/day for preschool children aged 0–5 years, 120 μg/day for school children aged 6–12 years, and 150 μg/day for adolescents (above 12 years) and adults, based on data from the WHO/UNICEF/ICCIDD [2]. Han et al. [20] reported that the average daily iodine intake of Korean adults was 215.5–726.5 μg/day, which exceeds the recommended amount. In a study on Korean children and adolescents, some regions of Korea were found to be iodine-sufficient [13]. In the present study on Korean adolescents aged 10–18 years from all regions, the mean UIC was 963.5±55.7 μg/L, indicative of high levels of body iodine.

Geography is believed to be a major factor responsible for iodine excess because seafood and seaweeds are easily available and abundant in coastal Korea. In addition, economic development and industrial development are other factors that affect nutritional status. In this study, iodine levels were analyzed in each administrative district to determine the iodine status and characteristics of each region. Jeju-do, Jeollanam-do, and Ulsan were identified as regions with excess iodine levels, with more than 10% of individuals in these regions having a UIC ≥3,000 μg/L. In Chungcheongnam-do, Gwangju, and Incheon, the incidence of iodine deficiency was relatively high, with over 10% of the region's population having a UIC ≤100 μg/L. Iodine excess and iodine deficiency were simultaneously observed in Gwangju and Incheon. Although Korea is overall a country with excess iodine, iodine status varied among regions. Jeju-do is the largest island in Korea, so its geographical characteristics appear to be the major cause for the excess iodine seen there, though further investigation of the socioeconomic factors, cooking methods, and preferred food is needed. Costante et al. [21] reported higher goiter prevalence and insufficient iodine intake in inland mountain areas compared to coastal areas. In a study by Aghini-Lombardi et al. [22] on adolescents aged 11–14 years from iodine-deficient regions, higher iodine intake was found in urban areas with high population densities, coastal mountainous/hilly areas, and lowland compared to areas with low population densities and inland mountainous/hilly areas. However, considering that Korea has a high population density and a high proportion of cities [23], and iodine is present in various types of food, socioeconomic factors, in addition to geographical factors, may play an important role in determining iodine status. Additionally, according to an analysis of trends in iodine intake of Korean adults from 1998 to 2014, overall consumption of iodine has decreased, although the cause is not clear [24]. With the overall decrease in consumption of iodine by Korean adults, iodine deficiency in adolescents is not unexpected. We believe that education is necessary to ensure that Korean adolescents eat a balanced diet; parents, adolescents, and school nutritionists should be educated on proper iodine intake.

In this study, the iodine statuses of adolescents and their parents appear to be associated. In the extreme iodine excess group with UIC ≥3,000 μg/L, maternal iodine status was associated with child's iodine status. However, additional research is needed to understand this intrafamily association of iodine status.

In the iodine-deficient group of Korean adolescents, iodine deficiency was (1) more common among girls than boys and (2) inversely related to an increase in average total monthly household income. These results support the previous finding that iodine intake among Koreans increases as income and education levels increase [20]. An iodine intake study of Korean adults reported that female participants ingested less iodine than male participants [24]. No studies have analyzed sex differences in iodine intake in Korean adolescents, but in British youth, iodine intake in female adolescents was lower than that in male adolescents [25]. Therefore, the higher risk of iodine deficiency in female individuals may be due to sex-related differences in diet.

A study by Knudsen et al. [26] of adults showed a decrease in incidence of goiter as education level increased. In another study on elderly subjects aged 60 years or older, income and employment status were associated with the incidence of subclinical thyroid dysfunction, suggesting that thyroid diseases might be associated with socioeconomic factors [27].

In industrialized countries that have been classified as areas with adequate or excessive iodine intake, such as England and Ireland, iodine deficiency has reemerged in certain age groups due to changes in eating habits [28]. Increased prevalence of western diets in Korea may also contribute to iodine deficiency in the younger population.

Although UIC was statistically associated with levels of TSH and fT4 in the present study, no association was found between iodine status and incidence of thyroid dysfunction. Nevertheless, in a study performed by Kang et al. [29] on children and adolescents, iodine excess was found to be associated with subclinical hypothyroidism. Iodine excess has also been reported to be associated with iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction and autoimmune thyroid diseases [30]. This suggests the possibility that iodine status, up to a certain level, will have less impact on thyroid dysfunction in adolescence than in adulthood. Therefore, it may be necessary to assess long-term thyroid function according to iodine status.

This study had some limitations. First, this study was based on KHANES VI, which is a cross-sectional survey; therefore, causality between UIC and thyroid disease within families could not be assessed. Second, international organizations such as WHO and UNICEF have used single random sampling UIC to compare public health data among countries, so we used single random sampling UIC in this study; however, UIC determined from a single random urine sample is inevitably affected by daily variations and dehydration. Therefore, additional data analysis using multiple spot UIC, 24-hour UIC, and urine iodine creatinine ratio, among other parameters, is required to improve reliability. Finally, although the iodine status of adolescents seems to be associated with the eating habits of their families, we did not evaluate dietary lifestyle factors of families and therefore could not clearly analyze the association between these two. Therefore, additional research on the eating habits and iodine status of Korean adolescents is needed.

In conclusion, there are regional differences in iodine status among Korean adolescents, and levels are affected by the eating habits of their families and other socioeconomic factors. Continuous monitoring of iodine status is therefore necessary.