Iodine is a mineral that is essential for good health. Iodine is water soluble. It is found in certain foods and iodized table salt. People can also take it as a supplement.
What does the body need iodine for?
Iodine is essential for growth and brain development. Iodine is central to healthy thyroid function. The thyroid gland uses iodine to make thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism happens when a person’s thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormones. An iodine deficiency limits the ability of the thyroid to make hormones, causing hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormone controls your metabolism and other important body functions. Iodine is found in many types of foods. It’s most concentrated in foods like:
- fish
- eggs
- nuts
- meats
- bread
- dairy products
- seaweed
- iodized table salt
Signs and Symptoms of Iodine Deficiency
Its symptoms are very similar to those of hypothyroidism, or low thyroid hormones. According to a 2017 study, about a third of people are deficient in iodine. Here are 10 signs and symptoms of an iodine deficiency.
- Unexpected Weight Gain
One of the most noticeable signs of an iodine deficiency is unexpected weight gain. When a person has a healthy metabolism, they burn calories to give them their energy. Hypothyroidism, or a lack of thyroid hormones, slows down a person’s metabolism. When a person’s metabolism slows down, calories are more likely to be stored as fat, leading to weight gain. It is important to remember that weight gain is not always a sign of an iodine deficiency. It may only be a symptom when weight gain cannot otherwise be explained. A more common explanation for weight gain is eating more calories than needed or not exercising enough.
- Fatigue and Weakness
Fatigue and weakness are also common symptoms of an iodine deficiency. In fact, some studies have found that nearly 80% of people with low thyroid hormone levels, which occur in cases of iodine deficiency, feel tired, sluggish and weak. This weakness is explained by a person having less energy than they did. Hypothyroidism slows down a person’s metabolic rate. This means they burn fewer calories for energy. Less energy means that muscles do not work as efficiently. This makes a person feel weak.
- Hair loss
Thyroid hormones help control the growth of hair follicles. When your thyroid hormone levels are low, your hair follicles may stop regenerating. Over time, this may result in hair loss. For this reason, people with an iodine deficiency may also suffer from hair loss.
- Drying skin
Having dry, flaky skin could be a sign of hypothyroidism, as it can be the result of iodine deficiency. Thyroid hormones help cells renew. A lack of these hormones may cause dead skin cells to build up, sometimes resulting in dry, flaky skin.
- Feeling Colder Than Usual
Feeling cold is a common symptom of an iodine deficiency. Since iodine is used to make thyroid hormones, an iodine deficiency can cause your thyroid hormone levels to plummet. Given that thyroid hormones help control the speed of your metabolism, low thyroid hormone levels may cause it to slow down. A slower metabolism generates less heat, which may cause you to feel colder than usual.
- Having a slow heart rate
Having an iodine deficiency may make a person’s heart beat more slowly. When a person’s heart rate slows down, they may feel dizzy or sick. It may also make them faint.
- Learning or memory problems
Thyroid hormones are important for brain development. Iodine deficiency may cause a lack of these hormones, resulting in problems with memory and learning new things. A 2014 study found that the hippocampus was smaller in people with low levels of thyroid hormones. The hippocampus is the part of the brain that affects memory.
- Pregnancy complications
Iodine deficiency may cause issues during pregnancy for the developing fetus. Pregnant women are at a high risk of iodine deficiency. This is because they need to consume enough to meet their own daily needs, as well as the needs of their growing baby. Mothers may experience symptoms of an underactive thyroid, such as a goiter, weakness, fatigue and feeling cold. Meanwhile, an iodine deficiency in infants may stunt physical growth and brain development.
- Heavy or Irregular Periods
Heavy and irregular menstrual bleeding may occur as a result of an iodine deficienc. Like most symptoms of iodine deficiency, this is also related to low levels of thyroid hormones, given that iodine is needed to make thyroid hormones.
- Swelling in the Neck
Swelling in the front of the neck is the most common symptom of an iodine deficiency. This is called a goiter and occurs when the thyroid gland grows too big. When blood levels of TSH rise, the thyroid gland uses iodine to make thyroid hormones. However, when your body is low in iodine, it can’t make enough of them. To compensate, the thyroid gland works harder to try to make more. This causes the cells to grow and multiply, eventually leading to a goiter.
References
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/iodine-deficiency-symptoms#section12
