Lack of iodine leads to cretinism. Who is at risk and what to do

The further you live from the sea, the more you lack iodine in your body. This is where it will lead

Suddenly: iodine deficiency diseases are the most common in the world among non-infectious, this is WHO data.

As of 2007 (later I did not find it), about 2 billion people in the world suffer from iodine deficiency. Moreover, among them there are more than 700 million children and many women who are giving birth or planning to give birth.

If anyone did not understand what I am lamenting about: pathological lack of iodine in the body leads to a drop in the intellectual level (mental retardation, cretinism). Of course, this is not the only consequence. Another disruption of the thyroid gland, metabolism, etc.

The farther from the sea, the greater the chance of living in an iodine-deficient area. Although 70% of the population of England is iodine deficient, although they are traditionally a maritime power.

Why salt was iodized in the USSR and why they stopped doing it in Russia

In the 30-80s of the last century, the Soviet Union focused on

With the collapse of the Soviet empire, this element practically disappeared from salt. For economic reasons: iodization costs money. For example, in 2013 there was not a single iodized salt plant in Russia. Everything was imported from abroad and accounted for no more than 10 percent of total sales.

Now the situation is improving, iodized salt has begun to appear. But there is no law stipulating the constant presence of iodized salt in all stores. It has been ready for a long time, but has not yet been adopted.

What factors contribute to the development of iodine deficiency?

1. Iodine-deficient region of residence (this is practically the whole of Russia) and an insufficient amount of iodine in food;

2. Pregnancy;

3. Selenium deficiency. Very often, these deficiency conditions go hand in hand. Why selenium? Because with its lack, iodine is poorly absorbed.

4. Gender - women more susceptible to iodine deficiency states;

5. Bad habits - smoking and alcohol;

6. Excessive intake of goitrogenic (disrupting the metabolism of thyroid hormones) substances, for example, phytic acid found in soybeans or cruciferous vegetables. Soybeans and crucifers are very useful, they protect against cancer, but there is still no need to eat them every day or to compensate for the lack of iodine.

7. Taking oral contraceptives (they reduce the amount of iodine in the body).

8. Age - at an early age, such phenomena as iodine deficiency conditions occur more often.

What to do?

Buy iodized salt and add a little salt to food before meals. That is, do not salt the cooking food, but slightly add salt to the finished one.

There is only one contraindication - hyperfunction of the thyroid gland.

Your Doctor Pavlova

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