This makes using iodized salt one of the easiest ways to prevent iodine deficiency without having to make other major modifications to your diet. Just a half teaspoon (3 grams) of iodized salt per day is enough to meet your daily iodine requirement ( 15). In contrast, today 90% of the US population has access to iodized salt, and the population is considered overall iodine sufficient ( 14). Prior to the 1920s, up to 70% of children in certain areas of the United States had goiters. The introduction of iodized salt was incredibly effective at eliminating the deficiency in many parts of the world. Soon after in 1920, many countries around the globe began fortifying table salt with iodine in an effort to prevent iodine deficiency. In 1917, physician David Marine began conducting experiments demonstrating that taking iodine supplements was effective at reducing the incidence of goiters. Iodized Salt Can Prevent Iodine Deficiency It may also cause problems in children and pregnant women.
Iodine deficiency can impair the production of thyroid hormones, resulting in symptoms like swelling in the neck, fatigue and weight gain. What’s more, it may also be associated with a higher risk of miscarriages and stillbirth ( 13). Low levels of iodine can cause brain damage and severe problems with mental development in children ( 8). Iodine deficiency may cause serious issues in children and pregnant women as well.
#HECTA IODINE SKIN#
This causes the cells in your thyroid to rapidly multiply and grow, resulting in a goiter ( 11).Ī decrease in thyroid hormones can also lead to other adverse effects, such as hair loss, fatigue, weight gain, dry skin and increased sensitivity to cold ( 12). However, when your body doesn’t have enough of it, your thyroid gland is forced to go into overdrive to try to compensate and make more hormones. Your thyroid gland uses iodine to produce thyroid hormones. Iodine Deficiency Can Cause Serious SymptomsĪ deficiency in iodine can cause a long list of symptoms that range from mildly uncomfortable to severe to even dangerous.Īmong the most common symptoms is a type of swelling in the neck known as a goiter. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, those on a vegan or vegetarian diet and those who live in certain areas of the world are at a greater risk of deficiency. Iodine deficiency is a major problem around the world. One study looked at the diets of 81 adults and found that 25% of vegetarians and 80% of vegans had iodine deficiency, compared to just 9% of those on mixed diets ( 10). Vegans and vegetarians are also at a greater risk. For example, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding are at a higher risk of deficiency because they require more iodine. In addition, certain groups of people are more likely to be deficient in iodine. This condition is also commonly found in areas such as Africa, Asia, Latin America and parts of Europe ( 8). In fact, it’s estimated that about a third of the population in the Middle East is at risk of iodine deficiency ( 9).
It’s considered a public health problem in 118 countries, and more than 1.5 billion people are believed to be at risk ( 8).ĭeficiencies in micronutrients like iodine are increasingly prevalent in certain areas, especially in regions where iodized salt is uncommon or there are low levels of iodine in the soil. Unfortunately, many people around the world are at an increased risk of iodine deficiency. Many People Are at Risk of Iodine Deficiency Iodine may also impact immune health and help treat fibrocystic breast disease. Your thyroid gland uses iodine to produce thyroid hormones, which play a role in tissue repair, metabolism and growth and development. Meanwhile, other studies have found that iodine may help treat fibrocystic breast disease, a condition in which non-cancerous lumps form in the breast ( 6, 7). In addition to its essential role in thyroid health, iodine may play a central role in several other aspects of your health.įor example, test-tube and animal studies suggest that it may directly impact the function of your immune system ( 4, 5). Thyroid hormones also play a direct role in the control of body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate ( 3). Your thyroid gland uses iodine to produce thyroid hormones, which aid in tissue repair, regulate metabolism and promote proper growth and development ( 1, 2). In many countries, it’s also combined with table salt to help prevent iodine deficiency. Iodine is a trace mineral commonly found in seafood, dairy products, grains and eggs.
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