IODINE CONTENT IN BABYFOOD IN AUSTRIA

An adequate iodine supplementation is essential for the normal and int ellectual development in premature birth and in newborns. The ceric ar senite reaction method modified by the authors was applied to examine - whether a sufficient iodine content in milk samples of four manufact urers ensured the iodine supply of bottlefed preterms and fullterms. O nly very few of 23 preparations examined contained the required iodine content recommended by the Food and Drug Nutrition Board of the Natio nal Academy of Sciences, the National Research Council of the United S tates, the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutritio n, and the German Society of Nutrition. It could be demonstrated that the majority of the commercially available babyfood-milk preparations contained insufficient quantities of iodine. To assure a sufficient io dine supply in this bottlefed group it would be necessary to add a var ied quantity of iodine to formula milk or to prepare babyfood with iod ine containing mineral water. Moreover, manufacturers might use milk f rom cows fed with iodinated salt. The results show clearly that an imp rovement in iodine content of commercial babyfood is essential for the cerebral development of solely bottlefed newborns.