What is Iodine? - Uses, Sources, Benefits & Deficiency Symptoms
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Iodine is an essential non-metallic mineral that can be found naturally, in trace amounts, within the body as well as several common foods such as kelp, shellfish, and probiotic yogurt. Upon consumption of foods containing iodine the iodine function and sources system breaks down these foods via gastrointestinal tract and iodine is readily absorbed into the body.
Within the body iodine becomes the iodide ion I-1 and bonds to a myriad of different organic compounds. Although the amount of iodide that can be found throughout the body is dwarfed by the amount of major minerals that can be found, it is still responsible for several major and minor roles within the body.
Iodine is important for everyone, but it is especially important iodine function and sources infants and pregnant women. Iodine deficiency can be detrimental to the health and growth of children and could lead to several complications both physically and mentally. In fact, Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of preventable mental impairment UA Iodine deficiency is not a major problem in most prominent countries, due to farming techniques that promote iodine rich soils and popular usage of iodized salt.
However, in several underdeveloped countries both women and children alike face the complications of iodine deficiency due to lack of access iodine function and sources iodine rich foods.
Typically iodine can more easily be found in countries that have easy access to the ocean or countries that have settlements that have once been undersea.
Therefore dryer and more inland countries such Ethiopia, Senegal and several others face the consistent problem of iodine deficiency UA, Availability of iodine becomes scarce in countries with large and concentrated population as well, despite methods to combat iodine deifiency AIIMS Iodine is predominantly found in seafood and areas where the soil is rich in iodine such as coastal areas and land that was once under the ocean.
Iodine function and sources, white fish, seaweed, and plants grown in iodine-rich soil are excellent nutritional sources of iodine. Several countries are using iodized salt in place of standard cooking salts. Iodine function and sources iodized salts can be used in several different meals to iodine function and sources a sufficient amount of iodine in locations distant from the ocean. The use of iodized salts is highly popular, though it is recommended to get iodine from different sources as well.
It is important to note that processed foods such as canned soups, which are especially common in American diets, do contain salt but it is almost never iodized salt U. Iodates or iodine salts are used as stabilizing agents in dough, which makes bakery products a source of iodine UMMC, Currently chloroamination of water is being more popularly used, however the demand for clean water and specifically iodine in certain countries could skew what the majority disinfection method is.
Iodine is necessary for normal thyroid function because it is a major component of the thyroid hormones known as T3 triiodothryonine and T4 thyroxine. These two hormones are very significant in the body because they play a role in regulating the basal metabolic rate and body temperature.
Additionally, these hormones are important for promoting growth, development, metabolism, and reproductive function. The amount of iodine required each day depends on age. Below is a table that shows average daily-recommended amounts HHS, There are also restrictions regarding the maximum amount of iodine that should be consumed each day.
These are known as Tolerable Uptake Intake Levels UL and they are the highest levels of iodine that can be consumed without causing side effects. These levels are documented below UMMC, Iodine deficiency is an important health problem throughout much of the world, especially in underdeveloped countries and mountainous regions such as the Himalayas, Andes, and European Alps.
Iodine deficiency is also a problem in river valley areas due to leaching of the iodine function and sources from the soil Caballero, Iodine imbalance or deficiency is less common in developed countries such as the United States and Canada due to the iodization of salt. However, iodine function and sources parts of the world where iodine and iodized salt are not easily available, conditions known as goiter or cretinism can occur.
Goiter is one of the earliest signs of iodine deficiency. Goiter affects about million people in the world and most cases are found in South America, Asia, and Africa. A goiter is a visible lump in the neck caused by an enlarged thyroid gland. A goiter is described as being grade 1 if it can be felt but not seen when the neck is extended and it is described as being grade 2 if it can be seen when the neck is in a normal position Institute of Medicine, Cretinism is the mental and physical retardation of a person that is caused by iodine deficiency during pregnancy.
This condition affects about six million people worldwide. The World Health Organization recognizes iodine function and sources deficiency as the most common avoidable cause of brain damage today Caballero, An iodine deficiency also interferes with the synthesis of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 because a major component of T3 and T4 is iodine.
An overdose of iodine is not that common in the United States, as most foods that contain iodine do not contain enough to cause an individual to ingest an excess amount. Adults are advised not to ingest more than 1. Symptoms of acute iodine poisoning are abdominal pain, shortness of breath, delirium, lack of urine, vomiting, and diarrhea NLM, Even though goiters are iodine function and sources with an iodine deficiency, an overdose of iodine can cause the thyroid to enlarge due to the elevated amounts of TSH Institute of Medicine, Pregnant women have to be exceptionally careful with their iodine intake.
Iodine induced goiters have been found in newborns when the mother had an excess of iodine during pregnancy Institute of Medicine, Links to an iodine function and sources site. If the mother has hyperthyroidism during pregnancy, the fetus is at risk of many complications such as growth retardation and a premature birth Medscape, Studies have shown that children are more likely to have a lower Iodine function and sources if their mother had high levels of TSH 16 weeks into the pregnancy Zoeller, There is also a correlation between breast cancer and an imbalance of iodine.
However, there is not enough evidence to prove that either excess or a iodine function and sources of iodine causes breast cancer Smyth, Iodine has been found to be important in mammary iodine function and sources. Guide to nutritional supplements pp. Retrieved August 3,from https: University of Maryland Medical Center. Retrieved July 28,from http: University of the Azores.
Iodine environmental availability and human intake in oceanic islands: Azores as a case-study. Retrieved December 1,from http: All India Institute of Iodine function and sources Sciences. Prevalence of iodine deficiency among adult population residing in Rural Ballabgarh, district Faridabad, Haryana.
Formation and occurrence of new polar iodinated disinfection byproducts in drinking water. Iodine, Iodine metabolism iodine function and sources Iodine deficiency disorders revisited. Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Iodine function and sources 113— Prenatal Diagnosis and Treatment. The thyroid, iodine and breast cancer.
BCR, 5 5— National Library of Medicine. Transplacental thyroxine and fetal brain development. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 7— From Wikibooks, open books for an open world. Retrieved from " iodine function and sources Fundamentals of Human Nutrition. Views Read Edit View history. Policies and guidelines Contact us.
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