Iodine is an essential element playing important roles in thyroid health, and bone and brain development. It is not as often mentioned by healthcare professionals as an iodine deficiency tends to be a rare occurrence, especially here in the United States. This, however, has not always been the case as worldwide efforts began as early as the 1920s to supplement iodine through dietary means. This is most commonly seen through iodized salt, dairy foods, and baked breads as the food industry has made efforts to incorporate iodine in its manufacturing process.1 However, even with such efforts to eliminate iodine deficiency, there are still countries which remain iodine deficient and at risk for adverse effects. As of 2013, there are still 30 countries including about 30% of the world’s population, who are considered to be iodine-deficient though none are categorized as severe.1 In addition, recent studies have shown than that pregnant women may be at an increased risk even within nations considered to be iodine sufficient. The following review will focus on understanding the importance of having sufficient dietary iodine and the possible role of supplementation on maternal and infant health.
Iodine Function and Deficiency Effects
Iodine is essential for thyroid health as it is a major component for the hormones triiodothyroinine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Thyroid functioning itself plays an important role in metabolic activity and fetal growth and development.2 Iodine deficiency can cause numerous issues including toxic goiter and hypothyroidism in adults. This issue may be more severe when occurring in pregnant women. Overall, the iodine requirements during pregnancy increase as there is a higher need for the thyroxine hor...
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...isk for decreases in thyroid levels, but this does not seem to have a highly prevalence effect on thyroid functioning of those individuals. It also appears that a women’s body is able to adapt to the increase need for thyroid hormones during pregnancy with little negative effect on infant development. It should be cautioned though that this is a topic that should be reviewed periodically as lifestyles and food manufacturing change. Individuals in the United States may currently not be prone to iodine deficiency, but levels may be decreasing based on changes in salt consumption and lifestyle, as well as variations depending upon the region of the country. The main focus continues to be on the remaining 30 countries who are iodine deficient and need supplementation to prevent thyroid related health issues as well as the occurrence of cognitive disabilities.
In the 1993 case of the CDC, they found that the number of cases avoided was estimated at 116 NTD- affected births per year. While the University of California study of 1995 estimated that, the number of cases avoided was estimated at 304 NTD per year. Furthermore, both cases found there to be a substantial economic benefit with the fortification of folic acid. The CDC included a benefit of $5 million per avoided case while the University of California estimated there to be a benefit of $342,500. On of the major differences between the two studies and their values includes the fact the University took into account the loss of productivity. Along with this, I find that the time in which the studies occurred played a role. I noticed that the University estimated there to be substantially more prevented cases than the CDC’s prediction. I find that the difference between the two studies could be due to the fact the University of California’s study come out after the FDA’s decision to mandate the fortification of folic acid in cereal products and that there may have been more accurate research or
The thyroid gland is located in the anterior, middle portion of the neck. Many of the bodies’ hormones come from the thyroid. According to Porth 2011, “the thyroid hormone increases the metabolism and protein synthesis in nearly all of the tissues of the body.” (p. 784). When these hormones are not regulated, a thyroid disorder develops such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
thyroid due to the birth of a child. This depression can be brought on by
Ricks, D. J., Rees, C. A., Osborn, K. A., Crookston, B. T., Leaver, K., Merrill, S. B., & … Ricks, J. H. (2012). Peru’s national folic acid fortification program and its effect on neural tube defects in Lima. Pan American Journal of Public Health, 32(6), 391-398.
Hypothyroidism is a chronic disease that is part of the endocrine system. Hypothyroidism is due low or lack of tri-iodothryonine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4) thyroid hormones being produced by the thyroid gland. The lack of thyroid hormones could be due to iodine or thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) deficiency or underactive thyroid gland (Sherwood, 2012). Thyroid hormones T3 and T4 are involved in almost every part of the body. It is ten times more prevalent in female than male, which affects about 4.6% of U.S population (Lellis-Santos et al, 2011). In the most cases, the symptoms are cold intolerance, fatigue, bradycardia and weight gain. Depending on the cause on hypothyroidism, a goiter may develop, which is the enlargement of the thyroid gland. In most cases taking thyroid hormone supplement is an effective treatment.
Throughout Katherine Dettwyler's Dancing Skeletons she describes her experiences, observations, and research in Mali. Amongst her writing she discusses the different health problems associated with the citizens, specifically children and women. After reading, I was able to gather new information on iodine deficiency and its effect on children, while also recollecting my thoughts and opinions on health and healthcare.
Andersson, Maria; Zimmermann, Michael B. (2010). Influence of Iodine Deficiency and Excess on Thyroid Function Tests 28. pp. 45–69
Many people probably are not familiar with thyroid disorders. They might not even be aware of any family history of thyroid disorders. There are several types of thyroid disorders which can affect men, women, and children. Thyroid disorders are commonly found in women. Everyone should know their family history and get their thyroid checked regularly.
Reading Bradford’s article entertained me continuously, involving profound facts regarding the human body about the thyroid function. With the ability to secrete hormones thyroxine(T4), calcitonin, and (T3) into the blood stream. Explaining the fact that hormones manage the speed at which organs and cells develop nutrients into vigor, including the time oxygen cells expenditure. “In this way, the thyroid gland is the body’s master metabolic control center,” said Cindy, Samet, existing as a chemistry professor, serving a presence at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The thyroid can regulate the nerve function development and brain, functions having to do with the hair, skin, heart, and
Taking a look into hyperparathyroid, it is characterized as having a excess secretion of the parathyroid hormone PTH and calcium. This condition can be classified as primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary hyperthyroidism occurs when there is a excess amount of PTH being secreted by more than one the the parathyroid glands (470). This know as one of the most common conditions and is possibly caused by genetics. As explained by AUTHOR the PTH is not under the control of the feedback mechanisms and this causes calcium levels in to blood to be increase (470). Secondary is known to be a compensatory response. This occurs because there is chronic
The thyroid is a reddish, ductless gland that looks like butterfly-shaped gland that is located in front of the trachea. The gland is the most richly vascular tissue. It consist of numerous closed follicles containing colloid matter and is surrounded by a vascular network. The thyroid gland might be small but it plays a huge role in our body. The thyroid influence the function of the body’s most important organs including: the heart, brain, liver, kidneys and even the skin. Ensuring that the thyroid gland is healthy and functioning properly is very important to the body’s health.
When it comes to eating right, it is important that the diet of a pregnant woman has food energy, protein, with many vitamins and minerals, as this is essential for the pregnancy to support the metabolic demands of pregnancy and the baby's growth. It is then, that knowing the fact that the diet of a pregnant woman should be well controlled it is ide...
Research shows that the pineal gland is not only responsible for sleep-wake patterns, aging, puberty, maturity, and IQ, this is one of the reasons for the lowering of the population’s IQ. Fluoride contributes to thyroid problems that affect the entire endocrine system. Abundant variations of fluoride are also in many insecticides for homes and pesticides for crops. There is even fluoride in baby food and
The term ‘cognitive health’ is often associated with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD, depression, etc. While an overwhelming body of research and evidence support that cognitive disorders are likely to be influenced by genetic predispositions and environmental factors, there has also been a great deal of research conducted in effort to explore the relationship between nutritional status and cognitive health. It has been found that many aspects of cognitive health are not only impacted, but also dependent upon certain nutrients which must be obtained through the diet. Through each stage of the lifecycle, nutritional status plays a key role in brain development, cognitive function and health, mood, and even the prevention of certain neurological and cognitive conditions. The influence that nutritional status has on cognitive health begins with conception.
In order to prevent kwashiorkor from ever developing, it is important to make sure to follow the nutritional guidelines and have a balanced diet of carbohydrates, fat, and protein. Kwashiorkor can most simply be prevented by making sure that a child eats enough protein after they are weaned off of their mother’s milk (Rossouw 1989). Often times, in third world countries the children are weaned off their mother’s milk and then put onto a maize diet that does not offer adequate amounts of protein rich food. The Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) “for protein is 0.66 grams of protein/kg of body weight. The EAR for protein increases during pregnancy, breastfeeding, period of rapid growth, or recovery from serious illnesses, blood losses, and burns” (Schiff 2013). The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that 10 to 35 percent of a person’s daily caloric intake come from protein. Furthermore, in order to prevent kwashiorkor from developing, children ages 1-3 years need to have 5-20 percent of their energy from protein, children ages 4-18 years need 10-30 percent from protein, and adults need 10-35 percent protein. In other words, kwashiorkor is an avertible disease that can be prevented if infants and children are consuming at