Detecting iodine deficiency risks from dietary transitions using shopping data

Mansilla, Roberto; Long, Gavin; Welham, Simon; Harvey, John; Lukinova, Evgeniya; Nica-Avram, Georgiana; Smith, Gavin; Salt, David; Smith, Andrew; Goulding, James

Abstract

Plant-based product replacements are gaining popularity. However, the long-term health implications remain poorly understood, and available methods, though accurate, are expensive and burdensome, impeding the study of sufficiently large cohorts. To identify dietary transitions over time, we examine anonymised loyalty-card shopping records from Co-op Food, UK. We focus on 10,626 frequent customers who directly replaced milk with alternative milk. We then use product nutritional information to estimate weekly nutrient intake before and after the transition. 83% who converted to alternative milk saw a fall in iodine (44%), calcium (30%) and vitamin B12 (39%) consumption, with 57% reducing iodine purchase by more than 50%. The decline is even higher for those switching dairy and meat products. Our findings suggest that dietary transitions - such as replacing milk with alternative milk - could lead to nutritional deficiencies, notably iodine, which, if not addressed, may represent a significant public health concern, particularly in countries which do not mandate salt iodisation.

Citation

Mansilla, R., Long, G., Welham, S., Harvey, J., Lukinova, E., Nica-Avram, G., …Goulding, J. (2024). Detecting iodine deficiency risks from dietary transitions using shopping data. Scientific Reports, 14(1), Article 1017. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50180-7

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 16, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jan 10, 2024
• Publication Date: Jan 10, 2024
• Deposit Date: Feb 16, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 16, 2024
• Journal: Scientific Reports
• Electronic ISSN: 2045-2322
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 1017
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50180-7
• Keywords: Nutrition disorders; Public health; Risk factors
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/29825538
• Publisher URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-50180-7
• Additional Information: Received: 30 June 2023; Accepted: 16 December 2023; First Online: 10 January 2024; : The authors declare no competing interests.