| Iodine deficiency is a problem throughout most of the | | | | deficiency disorders (IDD) affect 740 million people |
| world and Iodine is perhaps the most misunderstood | | | | throughout the world, and nearly 50 million people |
| and feared nutrient of all of the nutrients because of | | | | suffer from some degree of IDD-related brain |
| the potential for iodine poisoning. | | | | damage. The spectrum of IDD includes mental |
| Acute iodine poisoning is actually very rare and only | | | | retardation, hypothyroidism, goiter, and varying degrees |
| happens with dosages of several grams of iodine. | | | | of other growth and developmental abnormalities. |
| Most of the earth's iodine is found in oceans, and its | | | | It is also estimated that over 35% of the world's |
| content in the soils varies by region. Iodine is essential | | | | population (almost 2 billion people) has insufficient iodine |
| for normal thyroid functions, but there is a growing | | | | intake as measured by urinary exertion iodine, as |
| number of the medical community that believe that | | | | urinary iodine is an indicator of this nutrients status. |
| thyroid medications that are used today may be the | | | | Thyroid enlargement, or goiter, is one of the earliest |
| wrong treatment as they do not address this | | | | and most visible signs of a deficiency. The thyroid |
| deficiency properly. | | | | enlarges in response to persistent stimulation by TSH. |
| Every cell within the body needs iodine to function | | | | In mild deficiency, this adaptive response may be |
| properly, and glands also need iodine for the production | | | | enough to provide the body with sufficient thyroid |
| of hormones. There is also a growing concern that | | | | hormones. |
| because of the decreased levels of iodine in U.S. soils, | | | | More severe cases of deficiency result in |
| that this minerals deficiency may be one of the major | | | | hypothyroidism. Adequate intake of this nutrient will |
| causes of breast cancer as well as a contributor to | | | | generally reduce the size of goiters, but the reversibility |
| ovarian, uterus and prostrate cysts. | | | | of the effects of hypothyroidism depends on an |
| The World Health Organization has also identified a | | | | individual's stage of development. |
| deficiency of this nutrient as the largest single cause of | | | | Deficiency of this nutrient also has adverse effects in |
| mental retardation. | | | | all stages of development, but is most damaging to the |
| Iodine, a nonmetallic trace mineral, and is required by | | | | developing brain. |
| humans for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. To | | | | In addition to regulating many aspects of growth and |
| meet the body's demand for thyroid hormones, the | | | | development, the thyroid hormone is important for |
| thyroid gland traps iodine from the blood and | | | | proper functioning of the central nervous system, |
| incorporates it into thyroid hormones that are stored | | | | which is most active before and shortly after birth. The |
| and released into the circulation when needed. | | | | iodine content of most foods, again, depends on this |
| In target tissues, such as the liver and the brain, T3, the | | | | nutrients content of the soil. Seafood is a rich source |
| physiologically active thyroid hormone, can bind to | | | | because marine animals can concentrate this nutrient |
| thyroid receptors in the nuclei of cells and regulate | | | | from seawater. |
| gene expression in target tissues. | | | | Food sources high in this nutrients content are salt |
| T4, the most abundant circulating thyroid hormone, can | | | | (iodized), cod, shrimp, fish sticks, tuna (canned in oil), milk |
| be converted to T3 by selenium containing enzymes | | | | (cows), egg (boiled), navy beans (cooked), potato with |
| known as deiodinases, which are extremely important | | | | peel (baked), turkey breast (baked), and seaweed. |
| in the functioning of thyroid hormones. In this manner, | | | | Potassium iodine is available as a nutritional supplement, |
| thyroid hormones regulate a number of physiologic | | | | typically in combination products, such as multivitamin/ |
| processes, including growth, development, metabolism, | | | | multimineral supplements. Iodine makes up |
| and reproductive functions. | | | | approximately 77% of the total weight of potassium |
| Deficiency of this nutrient is now accepted as the | | | | iodine. |
| most common cause of preventable brain damage in | | | | A good liquid multivitamin will contain 100% of the daily |
| the world. | | | | value (DV) of this nutrient, and there are several very |
| According to the World Health Organization, iodine | | | | good brands to choose from in today's markets. |