Iron and/or iodine deficiencies can have multiple serious adverse health outcomes, but examination of incidence rates of these deficiencies has rarely been conducted in any large population. This study examined incidence rates, temporal trends and demographic factors associated with medically diagnosed iron and iodine deficiencies/disorders in US military service members (SM).

The Defense Medical Epidemiological Database (DMED) was queried for medical visits of active duty SM to obtain specific International Classification of Diseases, Version 9, codes involving clinically diagnosed iron and iodine deficiencies/disorders.

Analysis of existing database (DMED).

Entire population of US military SM from 1997 to 2015 (average n per year = 1 382 266, 15 % women).

Overall incidence rates for iron and iodine were 104 and 36 cases/100 000 person-years, respectively. Over the 19-year period, rates for iron disorders increased steadily (108 % for men, 177 % for women). Rates for iodine disorders also increased steadily for men (91 %), but, for women, there was an initial rise followed by a later decline. Overall, women’s rates were 12 and 10 times higher than men’s for iron and iodine, respectively. Compared with whites, blacks and those of other races had higher rates of deficiencies of both minerals. Incidence rates for iodine deficiency increased substantially with age.

The overall incidence of clinically diagnosed iron and iodine deficiency among SM was low, but increased over the 19 years examined, and certain demographic groups were at significantly greater risk. Given the unexpected increases in incidence of these mineral disorders, increased surveillance may be appropriate.

Clinical Trial Registration No. ISRCTN58987177 (http//:www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN58987177)