Iodine is a micronutrient that is essential for thyroid hormone production. Adequate iodine intake is especially important during pregnancy and early life, when brain development is dependent on thyroid hormones. Iodine intake recommendations vary around the world, but most recommendations generally reflect the increased requirements during pregnancy and lactation, although adequate iodine intake before pregnancy is also important. Tremendous progress has been made in improving iodine intake across the world over the past 30 years, mainly through salt-iodization programmes. However, in countries without strong iodine fortification programmes, and with shifts in dietary patterns, a need has arisen for health organizations, governments and clinicians to ensure that adequate iodine is consumed by everyone in the population. For example, in countries in which adequate iodine intake depends on individual food choice, particularly of iodine-rich milk and dairy products, intake can be highly variable and is also vulnerable to changing dietary patterns. In this Review, iodine is considered in the wider context of the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity, the dietary trends for salt restriction for cardiovascular health and the increasing uptake of plant-based diets.

碘是一种微量营养素，对于甲状腺激素的产生至关重要。在怀孕期间和生命早期，大脑发育依赖于甲状腺激素，充足的碘摄入量尤其重要。世界各地的碘摄入量建议各不相同，但大多数建议通常反映了怀孕和哺乳期间需求的增加，尽管怀孕前摄入足够的碘也很重要。过去 30 年来，主要通过食盐加碘计划，世界各地在改善碘摄入量方面取得了巨大进展。然而，在没有强有力的碘强化计划的国家，随着饮食模式的转变，卫生组织、政府和临床医生需要确保每个人都摄入足够的碘。例如，在适当的碘摄入量取决于个人食物选择的国家，特别是富含碘的牛奶和乳制品，摄入量可能存在很大差异，并且也容易受到饮食模式改变的影响。在这篇综述中，碘是在以下更广泛的背景下考虑的：超重和肥胖的患病率不断上升、为了心血管健康而限制盐的饮食趋势以及植物性饮食的摄入量不断增加。