Iodised salt and iodine supplements for prenatal and postnatal growth : a rapid scoping of existing systematic reviews
Date
2015-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
Background: Iodine deficiency can adversely affect child development including stunted growth. However, the
effect of iodine supplementation or fortification on prenatal and postnatal growth in children (<18 years) is unclear.
We identified the potential need for a systematic review to contribute to the evidence base in this area. To avoid
duplication and inform the need for a new systematic review and its protocol, we undertook a rapid scoping
review of existing systematic reviews investigating the effect of iodised salt and iodine supplements on growth and
other iodine-related outcomes.
Methods: We searched TRIP and Epistemokinos (latest search date 15 December 2014). All English language
systematic reviews reporting on the effect of iodine supplementation or fortification in any form, dose or regimen
on any iodine-related health outcomes (including but not limited to growth) were included. Eligible systematic
reviews could include experimental or observational studies in pregnant or lactating women or children to age 18.
We tabulated the extracted data to capture the scope of questions addressed, including: author, publication year,
most recent search date, participants, pre-specified treatment/exposure and comparator, pre-specified outcomes,
outcomes relevant to our question and number and type of studies included. Methodological quality of included
reviews was assessed using AMSTAR.
Results: Nine hundred and seventy-six records were screened and 10 reviews included. Most studies were of moderate
methodological quality. Outcomes included assessments of thyroid function, iodine deficiency disorders, mental
development and growth. Populations studied included pregnant women, preterm infants and children into adulthood.
Most reviews looked at direct iodine supplementation or fortification, though some reviews considered iodine status,
including the relationship between iodine intake and iodine biomarkers. Although five reviews pre-specified inclusion of
growth outcomes, none provided synthesised evidence on the effects of iodine supplementation or fortification on
prenatal and postnatal somatic growth.
Conclusions: Our rapid scoping review demonstrates a gap in the evidence base with no existing, up-to-date systematic
reviews on the effects of all forms of iodine supplementation/fortification in all of the relevant population groups on
relevant growth and growth-related outcomes. A new systematic review examining this question will assist in addressing
this gap.
Description
CITATION: Farebrother, J. 2015. Iodised salt and iodine supplements for prenatal and postnatal growth : a rapid scoping of existing systematic reviews. Nutrition Journal, 14:89, doi:10.1186/s12937-015-0079-z.
The original publication is available at http://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com
The original publication is available at http://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com
Keywords
Iodised salt, Iodine supplements, Iodine deficiency diseases
Citation
Farebrother, J. 2015. Iodised salt and iodine supplements for prenatal and postnatal growth : a rapid scoping of existing systematic reviews. Nutrition Journal, 14:89, doi:10.1186/s12937-015-0079-z.