Dietary iodine intake and urinary iodine concentration in vegan & plant-based and non-vegan or plant-based women of childbearing age of South Australia

Iodine is an essential nutrient that the body needs to make thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism and are critically important during pregnancy and for fetal brain development. In Australia, dairy products are one of the main dietary sources of iodine — but plant-based milks and other dairy alternatives typically contain very little iodine and are not currently required to be fortified with it. This study is investigating whether women who follow a vegan or predominantly plant-based diet have lower iodine levels compared to women who eat a more varied diet including dairy and meat. Participants will be asked about their usual eating habits and will provide a urine sample, which is the standard way to measure iodine levels in the body. The research could help inform whether Australian food fortification rules for plant-based products need to be updated. You may be eligible if you are a woman aged 18–50 who has not yet gone through menopause. The study is open to women of all dietary patterns — including vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores — for comparison. Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or experiencing infertility would not be eligible.