Frequently Asked Questions
Comparison of the Iodine Content in Infant Formula with WHO daily iodine intake requirement
5.1) What is WHO daily iodine intake requirement for infants 0-6 months?
According to WHO, positive iodine balance in the young infant, which is required for increasing the iodine stores of the thyroid, is achieved only when the iodine intake is at least 15 µg/kg body weight/day in term infants and 30 µg/kg body weight/day in preterm infants.
| Energy Content of Food | Codex's Standard for Iodine |
|---|---|
| Per 100 kcal | 10 – 60 µg |
| Per 100 kJ | 2.5 – 14 µg |
5.2) How to compare the iodine content declared on the container of the infant formula listed as "Per 100 g of milk powder" with the WHO's daily iodine intake requirement for infants 0-6 months?
Read the nutrition label on the container of infant formula. If the iodine content is listed as "Per 100 g of milk powder" and if boiled tap water (about 10 µg/L) is used to reconstitute the formula, the iodine intake from formula and water (µg/kg body weight/day) will be:
If the outcome is equal to or greater than 15 µg/kg body weight/day, then the iodine content of the product meets WHO recommendation
5.3) How to compare the iodine content declared on the container of the infant formula listed as " Per 100 ml of reconstituted milk " with the WHO's daily iodine intake requirement for infants 0-6 months?
Read the nutrition label on the container of infant formula. If the iodine content is listed as " Per 100 ml of reconstituted milk ", the iodine intake from the formula ( µg/kg body weight/day) will be:
If the outcome is equal to or greater than 15 µg/kg body weight/day, then the iodine content of the product meets WHO recommendation.