TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Iodine is a mineral that is naturally found in seawater and soil. The human body cannot produce iodine by itself, so it is necessary to consume foods containing iodine, one of which is salt. So, what is the impact of iodine deficiency on body health?
According to the American Thyroid Association at the address thyroid.org, iodine deficiency can have health effects in the form of:
1. Enlargement of the thyroid
Thyroid enlargement or disease problems This can occur due to a lack of iodine intake in the body. This condition occurs because the thyroid in the body tries to produce thyroid hormone by itself, to meet the thyroid intake in the body. Enlarged thyroid or goiter can cause choking, difficulty swallowing and breathing.
2. Hypothyroid
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid does not produce the thyroid hormone the body needs. This condition causes the body’s metabolism to slow down, feeling tired, gaining weight and intolerance to cold temperatures. In the United States, iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism.
3. Pregnancy related problems
Severe iodine deficiency in the mother has been linked to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and birth defects in the baby. Children of mothers with severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy can develop intellectual disabilities and problems with growth, hearing, and speech.
Although rare, in the most severe cases, an underactive thyroid due to iodine deficiency can lead to cretinism (a syndrome characterized by permanent brain damage, deaf muteness, spasticity, and short stature).
Quoting Healthline on the healthline.com site, iodine deficiency
can only be diagnosed through a urine test, but low iodine levels can be detected through symptoms of a thyroid disorder, such as a visible goiter, a thyroid gland that is painful to the touch, difficulty breathing (especially when lying down), difficulty swallowing, fatigue, extreme cold feeling despite a normal temperature , hair loss, depression, brain fog, and unintentional weight gain.
Meanwhile, WHO and UNICEF recommends a daily iodine intake of 90 ug (micrograms) for ages 0 to 7 years, 120 ug for ages 7 to 12, 150 ug for ages 12 and over, and 250 ug for pregnant and lactating women.
DELFI ANA HARAHAP
Read: Excess Iodine Consumption also Has Side Effects
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