6/14/24 -History of Iodized Salt (are plant-based peeps at risk of iodine deficiency?); 2 Dietitian Spotlights:Kim Hall & Carol Ireton Jones; A Question Answered; 4 Things You Don't Want to Miss

🧂On Iodine Deficiency and Modern Diets

Start off with a listen to this “Stuff You Missed in History Class” podcast

about the history of iodized salt and when and why iodine began to be added to salt.

Now, let’s think a little about modern day eating habits and diets, particularly “plant-based” or vegan. What happens when people don’t eat foods or drink beverages that are a source of iodine? What if: they don’t consume dairy products or drink milk; they don’t eat fish or seafood; and instead of iodized salt they use sea salt with no iodine.

🤔So, something to think about….is iodine deficiency a possibility in this population? Will we see a resurgence of goiters?

Here are some studies that looked at this:

“The study found that the coverage of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for iodine among people with a vegan diet was lower than among people with an omnivore diet. A total of 90% of the participants with a vegan diet had an iodine intake below 150 µg/day.”

“U.S. vegetarians are iodine sufficient. U.S. vegans may be at risk for low iodine intake, and vegan women of child-bearing age should supplement with 150 μg iodine..”

Iodine Deficiency–Induced Goiter in Central New Jersey: A Case Series - ScienceDirect

Do you think about these this when you counsel patients who follow a plant-based/vegan diet?

What are the symptoms of iodine deficiency in adults?

• Swelling of thyroid glands in the neck

• A visible lump (goiter) on your neck

• Weight gain, fatigue and weakness

• Thinning hair

• Dry skin

• Feeling colder than usual

• Slowed heart rate

• Learning and memory difficulties

• Heavy or irregular periods

Source: Iodine Deficiency | Temple Health

💡Spotlight: 2️⃣ Questions for Kim Hall, RD/CD, CNSC

Connect with Kim Hall on LinkedIn HERE

Kim Hall moderates for our Build Up Dietitians NUTRITION SUPPORT and our Build Up LTC groups and Kim also creates many of the infographics images you see on our sites.

Question #1: What is your current role/title as a dietitian and what other positions have you had as a dietitian?

“I’m currently a clinical dietitian in acute care, covering ICU/CVICU/ special care nursery; I have also worked in LTC in both clinical and food service management roles.”

Question #2: What do you like about being involved with the Build Up Dietitians platform? 

“I love the commitment to science/evidenced based practice. I also love learning and helping others learn new things.”

💡Spotlight: 2️⃣Questions for Carol Ireton-Jones, PhD, RDN, CNSC, FASPEN, FAND

Carol Ireton-Jones is a moderator for both our Build Up Dietitians GASTRO group and our Build Up Dietitians Nutrition Support group.

Connect with Carol on LinkedIn HERE

Question#1: What is our current role/title as a dietitian?

“Private practice dietitian seeing GI and home nutrition support patients and educating in GI diseases - and serial entrepreneur!”

Question #2: What’s one thing you really like about being involved with the Build Up Dietitians platform?

“… a supportive, evidence-based group of dietitians….”

🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈

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🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️Question to some of our followers

Answers:

Rebecca K. “With patients in the inpatient setting: that being thin = adequate nutrition status. Many people lose weight during hospitalizations, and they see this as a good thing which can be harmful! On a daily basis I am reminding patients that their bodies are in a higher metabolic state due to their acute illness and that adequate nutrition and weight maintenance should be the goal, no matter what their weight status is.”

Oona S. “That sugar is bad. My 8-year-old hears that in school. I've had parents ask me to tell their kids that juice is poison because of all the sugar. It's disturbing how misinformed even children are now. One kid kid told my 8-year-old he shouldn't have his orange because it was too much sugar and calories.”

Tom P. “Fruit has too much sugar.”

Susan G. “…the idea that an ICU patient can "live off their fat" and it's ok to be NPO for days.”

5️⃣Things You Don’t Want to Miss

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