Iodine deficiency
Iodine deficiencies are very common, especially in Europe and Third World countries, where the soil and food supply have low iodine levels. Your body uses iodine to make thyroid hormones. That’s why an iodine deficiency can cause hypothyroidism, a condition in which the body can’t make enough thyroid hormones. Luckily, deficiency is easy to prevent. Adding a dash of iodized salt to your main meals should help you meet your requirements. If you think you have an iodine deficiency, it’s best to talk to your doctor. They will check for visible signs of an iodine deficiency, like a goiter. Approximately 30% of the world’s population remains at risk for iodine deficiency.
Why iodine deficiency can be dangerous?
iodine deficiency can cause many problems. Scientists are studying iodine to understand how it affects health. Here are some examples of what this research has shown:
- Cognitive function during childhood: Severe iodine deficiency during childhood has harmful effects on the development of the brain and nervous system.
- Goiter: without adequate iodine, the thyroid progressively enlarges (develops a goiter) as it tries to keep up with demand for thyroid hormone production. Worldwide, iodine deficiency is the most common cause of thyroid enlargement and goiter. Within a goiter, nodules can develop. Patients with a large goiter may experience symptoms of choking, especially when lying down, and difficulty swallowing and breathing.
- Hypothyroidism: As the body’s iodine levels fall, hypothyroidism may develop, since iodine is essential for making thyroid hormone. While this is uncommon in the United States, iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism worldwide.
- Iodine deficiency in pregnancy and related problems: Iodine deficiency is especially important in women who are pregnant or nursing their infants. Severe iodine deficiency in the mother has been associated with miscarriages, stillbirth, preterm delivery, and congenital abnormalities in their babies. Children of mothers with severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy can have intellectual disabilities and problems with growth, hearing, and speech. In the most severe form, an underactive thyroid can result in cretinism (a syndrome characterized by permanent brain damage, deaf mutism, spasticity, and short stature), although this has become rare worldwide. Iodine deficiency is the most common preventable cause of intellectual disabilities in the world. Even mild iodine deficiency during pregnancy, may be associated with low intelligence in children.
Reference:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/iodine-deficiency-symptoms
https://www.gbhealthwatch.com/Nutrient-Iodine-Symptoms.php
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3074887/
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-Consumer/
