Prevention of iodine deficiency in the body. Why is iodine deficiency dangerous and how to deal with it?

Iodine is one of the microelements necessary for the normal functioning of the body. A significant portion of the iodine consumed is concentrated in the thyroid gland, primarily used for the synthesis of thyroid hormones: T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine). Thyroid hormones regulate metabolism, participate in the production and control the use of energy in all organs of our body. The iodine requirement per day for an adult is 100-150 mcg; during pregnancy, periods of intense growth, and after long-term illnesses, this norm increases.

Symptoms of iodine deficiency

According to the World Health Organization, more than 10% of people on earth are at risk of iodine deficiency. When less than 10 mcg of iodine per day enters the body, its deficiency begins to appear. The thyroid gland can initially replenish the missing amount of iodine from its existing supply. But for the normal functioning of the body, uninterrupted functioning of the thyroid gland and a constant supply of iodine are necessary. Over time, without its replenishment from the outside, internal reserves dry up, and a pronounced iodine deficiency occurs.

Symptoms of iodine deficiency in the body are:

• Dry skin, hair loss;
• Increased fatigue, nervousness, lethargy;
• Rapid heartbeat, heart pain, shortness of breath;
• Decreased immunity, frequent infectious diseases;
• Overweight;
• Headaches, memory and attention impairment;
• Low blood pressure, anemia.

Women living in areas with iodine deficiency may experience disruptions to their menstrual cycle and an increase in the number of miscarriages and stillbirths. With prolonged iodine deficiency in the body, there is a possibility of endemic goiter - a disease of the thyroid gland. It manifests itself in an enlargement of the thyroid gland, and subsequently leads to disruption of its function. If any of the symptoms of iodine deficiency appear, you should consult a doctor.

Causes of iodine deficiency in the body

First of all, iodine deficiency can be caused by a lack of it in the food and water consumed; risk factors also include:

• Increased background radiation;
• Remoteness of the place of residence from the seas and oceans;
• Drinking chlorinated water;
• Polluted habitat;
• Taking certain medications.

Iodine deficiency is a threat to pregnant women and children. In a growing body, the need for iodine is increased and its deficiency can lead to physical, mental and mental retardation in development and, in extreme cases, to the development of cretinism. At the slightest suspicion of thyroid disease, you must undergo a full examination: tests for thyroid hormones, ultrasound examination, blood and urine tests, and then, if necessary, begin treatment

Prevention of iodine deficiency

To eliminate iodine deficiency, you need to include foods high in this microelement in your diet, such as:

• Sea fish and seafood - cod, hake, pollock, halibut, shrimp, shellfish, red and brown algae, seaweed;
• Beef, milk, eggs;
• Vegetables – sorrel, spinach, asparagus, eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, garlic;
• Fruits - oranges, lemons, bananas, melons, persimmons, pineapples;
• Cereals, mushrooms grown in soil rich in iodine.

Also, iodized salt is used to prevent iodine deficiency, but we must remember that when heated, iodine evaporates, so it is necessary to salt foods already prepared. In addition, there are a number of products additionally fortified with iodine, including milk and dry formulas for children. To prevent iodine deficiency, pregnant women need to take special medications that contain iodine. The following iodine intake standards exist:

• Children under two years old – 50 mcg;
• Children from two years to six – 90 mcg;
• Children from seven to twelve – 120 mcg;
• Children over twelve years of age and adults – 150 mcg;
• Pregnant women – 200 mcg.

Watch your diet, adhere to these standards, regularly consuming foods containing iodine, and be healthy.

The body must constantly maintain a balance of microelements, the violation of which leads to serious diseases. The cause of depression, weak immunity and increased fatigue is often iodine deficiency, the symptoms of which are mild at first and increase over time. The lack of this substance especially affects the mental and physical development of children.

This microelement enters the body with food and drinking water. How it is absorbed depends on the state of the gastrointestinal tract and concomitant diseases. The following reasons can lead to iodine deficiency:

• low microelement content in the soil of a particular region;
• unbalanced diet and lack of vitamin A;
• excess calcium in foods;
• lack of synthesis of thyroid hormones;
• disruption of absorption processes in the small intestine.

Among environmental conditions, the level of ionizing radiation in the region of residence plays an important role. Radioactive elements displace iodine from chemical compounds, which leads to a decrease in its content in soil, drinking water and food.

Symptoms of iodine deficiency

A prolonged lack of microelement affects both the general physical condition and the psychological sphere. The following groups of symptoms of iodine deficiency in the body are distinguished:

• gynecological;
• immunodeficient;
• emotional;
• cardiological;
• hematological

Changes in psychological state are among the first to make themselves felt. A patient with iodine deficiency experiences increased fatigue, depression, slowed reactions, decreased attention, memory impairment, and develops irritability.

An immunodeficiency state is expressed in susceptibility to viral and colds and long-term recovery from them. A hematological symptom is a decrease in hemoglobin levels (anemia), which is difficult to treat with iron supplements.

The heart manifests itself as arrhythmia, increased diastolic (lower) pressure, and with prolonged iodine deficiency, atherosclerosis develops. Patients are also characterized by swelling of the limbs, face and eyelids, which cannot be eliminated with the help of diuretics. The skin becomes dry and waxy.

In women, the level of sex hormones decreases. There are interruptions in the menstrual cycle and difficulties with conception, including infertility. In men, iodine deficiency provokes sexual weakness up to the development of impotence.

Manifestations in children

At an early age, the lack of this microelement has especially adverse consequences. Children whose diet lacks iodine cannot fully develop physically and mentally. They may have the following manifestations of deficiency:

• decreased appetite;
• rapid fatigue from physical activity;
• apathy and lethargy;
• poor learning ability;
• growth retardation;
• in severe cases - dwarfism, mental retardation and cretinism.

This microelement is vital for the fetus developing in the womb: it takes part in the formation of bone and cartilage tissue, the fetal nervous system, and protein synthesis. For the body of a nursing mother, iodine is important for the development of mammary glands and the production of breast milk.

For the prevention and treatment of thyroid diseases, our readers recommend Monastic Tea. It consists of 16 of the most useful medicinal herbs, which are extremely effective in the prevention and treatment of the thyroid gland, as well as in cleansing the body as a whole. The effectiveness and safety of Monastic tea has been repeatedly proven by clinical studies and many years of therapeutic experience. Doctors' opinion..."

The lack of this microelement can become severe and provoke endemic goiter - an overgrowth of the thyroid gland, which will be detected in time during regular examinations of a pregnant woman. If the deficiency remains hidden and does not give a clear clinical picture, adverse consequences for the child’s body will still appear. These may be psychomotor retardation of the baby, slow growth, and early developmental defects.

Iodine deficiency in pregnant women can cause profound disruptions in the functioning of the organs and systems of the fetus, which lead to spontaneous miscarriages, fetal death and the development of complications during childbirth. The incidence of hypothyroidism in newborns also increases. If iodine deficiency in a pregnant woman’s body in the last trimester was 25% or more of the norm, then the risk of thyroid disorders in the child increases 5 times.

Methods for determining iodine deficiency

If several symptoms characteristic of this condition appear, you should consult an endocrinologist. How do you know how far the process has progressed in a particular case? To do this, in a clinical setting, laboratory tests are used to determine iodine deficiency:

• Ultrasound of the thyroid gland;
• analysis for thyroid-stimulating hormones.

During a personal examination, the doctor must palpate the thyroid gland and pay attention to accompanying signs - difficulty swallowing, distortion of the timbre of the voice.

How to determine iodine deficiency in the body at home? To do this, you can use a not very accurate, but informative test. On the forearm, using an alcohol solution of iodine, draw 3 parallel lines - the 1st is drawn with 1 application, the 2nd with two, and the 3rd with three. This is done before bedtime. In the morning you can evaluate the result: if only the line applied once has disappeared, there is no iodine deficiency.

If all the applied stripes have turned pale or completely disappeared, there is a lack of microelement and it is necessary to urgently contact an endocrinologist.

How to treat and prevent iodine deficiency?

The treatment for any nutrient deficiency is to replenish it. This can be done in 2 ways - to establish the supply of microelements with food and take iodine-containing medications. The latter should not be selected independently - prescriptions should be made by an endocrinologist, taking into account the patient’s condition and the presence of concomitant diseases.

For prevention and in addition to treatment, a special diet is used. A diet for iodine deficiency may include:

• seafood - kelp, shrimp, squid, cod, pollock and other types of fish;
• beef;
• dairy products;
• mushrooms;
• some vegetables - eggplant, asparagus, beets, tomatoes, radishes, garlic;
• fruits - melons, pineapples, bananas, citrus fruits, persimmons.

Additionally, salt containing iodine compounds is produced. The advantage of the diet is that with its help you can make up for the deficiency without allowing an overdose. The downside is that advanced iodine deficiency cannot be cured with diet. The amount contained in food products will not be able to compensate for a significant deficiency.

Prevention of iodine deficiency in children depends on age. For infants, special milk formulas enriched with microelements are produced. For older children, the diet should include more dairy products, preferably of natural origin. Fresh vegetables and fruits, cereal porridges, fish of all kinds are healthy. Products must be from ecologically clean regions and not be treated with herbicides and pesticides - natural iodine compounds are destroyed by the action of toxins.

For pregnant women, it is better to discuss the prevention of iodine deficiency with a doctor and select the diet or medications individually.

It still seems like it’s not easy to cure your thyroid?

Considering that you are now reading this article, we can conclude that this illness still haunts you.

You've probably also thought about surgery. This is clear, because the thyroid gland is one of the most important organs on which your well-being and health depend. And shortness of breath, constant fatigue, irritability and other symptoms clearly interfere with your enjoyment of life...

But, you see, it is more correct to treat the cause, not the effect. We recommend reading the story of Irina Savenkova about how she managed to cure her thyroid gland...

Iodine is an important element that takes an active part in metabolism and thermoregulation of the body. Iodine deficiency leads to malfunctions of the thyroid gland, which provokes the development of severe pathologies.

Iodine deficiency - what is it?

Iodine deficiency is a non-infectious disease in which there is not enough iodine in the body. This trace element is necessary for the formation of thyroid hormones. And they provide protein, carbohydrate and fat metabolism. Thyroid hormones provide the body with energy for physical and intellectual activity.

If the body has enough iodine, then the person is full of vitality, feels good, has excellent memory and excellent reactions. If the problem of iodine deficiency arises, the person is lethargic, drowsy, and his intellectual abilities are reduced. A person’s immunity weakens and he often gets sick.

Normal level of iodine in the human body

Daily iodine intake:

Infants need 25-50 mcg of this microelement per day. The daily need for iodine in slightly older children increases to 90 mcg. Schoolchildren are required to receive 120 mcg per day. An adult man up to 35-40 years old - 150 mcg per day, and with age the need for this microelement in men drops to 100 mcg. Women need to take an increased dose of iodine during pregnancy and lactation.

Causes of iodine deficiency

Iodine deficiency occurs if the body does not receive enough iodine from food for a long time. In this case, the person develops endemic goiter. The thyroid gland enlarges, causing a bulge to appear on the neck (see photo below).

Causes of iodine deficiency:

• deficiency in seafood diet;
• not using iodized salt for cooking;
• distance from the sea;
• alcohol abuse;
• smoking;
• uncontrolled;
• hereditary predisposition to thyroid diseases, etc.

Sometimes iodine can enter the body in sufficient quantities, but due to gastrointestinal diseases it is not completely absorbed. The reason for this is intestinal dysbiosis.

The absorption of iodine is hindered by:

• drinking too much chlorinated or fluoridated water;
• treatment with drugs containing bromine, antibiotics, aspirin, sulfa drugs.

Important! If exposed for too long products heat treatment, the level of nutrients in them decreases. Even food rich in microelements, if improperly processed, will not replenish the body with useful substances.

Symptoms

Signs of iodine deficiency

The very first sign indicating that the body is not receiving enough iodine from food is loss of strength. After all, only this trace element ensures the normal functioning of thyroid hormones, which are responsible for energy production. With iodine deficiency, a person becomes lethargic and drowsy. True, it is not always possible to determine the disease by such signs, since the first symptoms are more like a slight malaise.

Another signal indicating a problem with iodine deficiency is swelling. A person develops bags under his eyes and his limbs swell (see photo above). Taking diuretics only aggravates the situation - all useful substances are washed out of the body.

Common symptoms of iodine deficiency are as follows:

• exhaustion;
• irritability;
• depression;
• lethargy;
• hypotension;
• metabolic disorder;

If a person does not have enough iodine in his body, he often gets sick. His immunity weakens. People are constantly plagued by infectious, viral and fungal diseases. In addition to iodine deficiency, the patient develops anemia. In this case, the person looks pale and is bothered by tinnitus and dizziness.

Some signs of iodine deficiency in women may include:

• nervous breakdown;
• weakness;
• apathy;
• forgetfulness;
• brittle nails, dry skin, hair loss;
• arrhythmia;
• lack of hemoglobin;
• excess weight;
• menstrual cycle disorder;
• premature onset of menopause;
• infertility.

Men have problems with iodine deficiency are less common in the body than in women. If this happens, then microelement deficiency affects not only emotional behavior, but also sexual functions. With hypothyroidism, potency decreases and sexual desire weakens.

Symptoms in children :

• lethargy;
• tearfulness;
• decreased intellectual abilities;
• frequent colds;
• low hemoglobin;
• poor appetite.

Iodine deficiency in children is often recognized in the later stages, when a goiter appears on the neck. In addition to swelling in the throat, the child is tormented by attacks of dry cough, and it is difficult for him to swallow food. An acute shortage of this important microelement also affects school performance - sick children study poorly. If the thyroid gland is not functioning properly, teenagers may experience slow bone growth.

Complications

Why is iodine deficiency dangerous?

Lack of iodine leads to disturbances in the functioning of the thyroid gland. A person experiences a hormonal imbalance, and the whole body suffers from this. The disease affects the tissues of the thyroid gland itself. The patient develops nodules in the neck (goiter).

There are several stages of goiter development. At the initial stage, the thyroid gland ceases to function normally, hormones are released in small quantities, but no visible signs of the disease are detected. In the second and third stages, the tissues grow, lumps appear on the neck, and the patient is diagnosed with a goiter. To prevent dangerous complications, you need to replenish your body with the right amount of this microelement every day.

Why is iodine deficiency dangerous for pregnant women?

If a woman is carrying a child and her body does not have enough iodine, then developmental disorders may occur in the fetus. The baby may be born with problems in the functioning of the thyroid gland or mentally retarded. In more severe cases, children are stillborn.

Hormones produced by the thyroid gland take part in metabolism. In case of their deficiency symptoms in women: swelling appears (under the eyes, on the legs and arms). At the same time, body weight increases, but not because of fat accumulation, but because of fluid.

Diagnostics

How to determine the lack of iodine in the body? You can do a test for iodine deficiency at home. To do this, you need to draw 3 stripes on your hand with iodine: one 5 cm, the rest 3 and 2 cm. If after 3 hours the shortest one disappears, then the body is slightly lacking this microelement. If the drawing disappears completely, the person has a serious problem. True, a test for iodine deficiency at home cannot be considered as a professional diagnosis.

Only a doctor can diagnose a patient. To do this, the endocrinologist prescribes a blood test - an analysis of thyroid hormones and biochemistry. The patient needs to donate urine and undergo an ultrasound of the thyroid gland. The doctor palpates the neck to determine the degree of development of the goiter. If there are large nodes, an additional biopsy is prescribed. The examination is necessary for those people who have disturbing symptoms, for example, problems with remembering a small amount of information, constant irritability, apathy, negative thoughts, drowsiness, swelling in the throat.

Treatment of iodine deficiency

Treating iodine deficiency means replenishing the body’s reserves with the necessary microelement. This is done in two ways: by consuming medications or foods with a high iodine content. During the treatment period, you need to follow a special diet and avoid foods that block the missing microelement (radishes, soybeans, corn, turnips).

• seaweed – 500;
• hake – 430;
• cod liver – 370;
• squid – 300;
• haddock – 245;
• pollock – 150;
• shrimp – 190;
• feijoa – 70;
• oysters – 60;
• capelin, catfish, pink salmon, tuna, flounder – 50.

The trace element contained in food is destroyed at high temperatures. You need to cook food either by steaming or boiling. Small amounts of iodine are found in milk (19), eggs (18), pork (16.5), beef (11.5), broccoli (15), spinach (12), greens (15), vegetables (10), buckwheat (3.5), champignons (18). To replenish iodine deficiency, you need to consume 5-10 g of salt daily, thus the need for this microelement will be replenished by 150-200 mcg.

Iodized drugs

Iodine deficiency diseases can be cured with the help of iodized drugs in doses not exceeding the daily norm - 200 mcg. In more severe cases, the doctor may increase the dose to 400 mcg per day. Severe complications caused by a long-term lack of iodine in the body, which led to the formation of grade 2-3 goiter and large nodes on the neck, are treated surgically.

Iodine preparations for treatment and daily intake:

• Iodomarin - children 150 mcg, adults 400 mcg;
• Iodbalan – children 200 mcg, adults 400 mcg;
• Potassium iodite – children 0.2 mg, adults 0.3-0.5 mg.

For the treatment of the disease it is also prescribed Antistrumin, Iodine Vitrum, Iodine-active. Take medications after meals and drink plenty of liquid. For children, tablets are crushed and dissolved in water. Take medications for 2-4 weeks. When treating a disease, the daily dose of medication should not exceed 200 mcg for children and 500 mcg for adults.

Attention!!! Taking too much iodine can cause poisoning and even death. Symptoms indicating excess iodine: metallic taste in the mouth, increased salivation, skin rash. The lethal dose of a trace element is 3 grams.

If the disease is not dangerous, then treatment is carried out within the limits of preventive standards. The doctor prescribes 100 mcg of the drug for children, and 200 mcg for adults, and observes the dynamics of the development of the disease over several days. If the disease does not go away, the dosage is increased.

Medicines for the prevention of iodine deficiency and daily dose :

• Iodomarin - children 80 mcg, adults 150 mcg, pregnant women 200 mcg;
• Iodine balance – children 100 mcg, adults 100-200 mcg;
• Potassium iodite – children 0.1 mg, adults 0.2 mg.

The drugs should not be taken if the thyroid gland is hyperfunctioning or if you are allergic to iodine-containing substances. To prevent iodine deficiency, you can take vitamin complexes with iodine: Multitabs, Alphabet, Vitrum, Mom's health.

Prevention

To prevent iodine deficiency, you should eat foods that are rich in this microelement (see list above). The most affordable way to replenish iodine reserves in the body is to take iodized table salt daily. It should be used for ready meals (5-10 grams per day). To determine how much the body needs this microelement, you need to do a test for iodine deficiency at home.

It is useful to drink iodized mineral water, eat seaweed, cod liver, and seafood. Supermarkets sell products (baked goods, soft drinks, milk) with high iodine content. This is evidenced by the inscription on the packaging. For children, milk formulas are produced that contain this important microelement for health.

Prevention of iodine deficiency is swimming in the ocean or sea, eating sea fish and pharmaceutical iodine-containing drugs. You can use folk remedies to replenish the body with iodine. For example, eat walnuts (one every day) or make tinctures from them.

Recipe for a remedy for iodine deficiency disease:

• green walnuts – 200 grams;
• honey – 200 grams

Grind the nuts. Add honey to them. Infuse the mixture in a dark and warm place for 30 days. Take one tablespoon of tincture daily for a month.

Symptoms of iodine deficiency in women can be eliminated through maximum consumption of ocean fish, seaweed, and iodized salt. It is useful to drink herbal decoctions from white cinquefoil, lemongrass and blueberry leaves, and calamus roots. It is necessary to take vitamin complexes containing iodine. The microelement is well absorbed if there is enough protein, calcium, iron and zinc in the food.

Forecast

The problem of iodine deficiency in the body can lead to disruption of the functioning of the thyroid gland and the development of goiter. A person may develop hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, and sometimes even thyroid cancer. Pregnant women may experience problems with fetal development. Children who do not receive iodine-containing foods may lag behind in mental and physical development.

Iodine deficiency detected at the initial stage can be successfully treated within 2-4 weeks. In advanced cases (strong development of nodular goiter), the patient is prescribed surgery. After surgical treatment, a person needs lifelong replacement therapy.

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Discussion: 2 comments

Several years ago, a lack of iodine in the body was diagnosed. And they prescribed me to eat a portion of seaweed every day (!). I couldn’t stand it, I choked, but I ate it. And six months later, iodine deficiency was eliminated. Now from time to time I cook myself Korean seaweed, or make a hodgepodge of it with squid or cucumber. Tasty, and most importantly – very healthy!

Answer

1. Why mock yourself like that?... There are a lot of other iodine-containing products, dietary supplements...

   Answer

The beneficial properties of iodine have been studied for a long time. But mainly, it was used as an antiseptic when treating wounds. And only at the end of the 20th century, it was established that iodine is a “building material” used by the thyroid gland to produce a variety of hormones. And without it, a person develops dementia, immunity decreases and nodes and tumors appear in the thyroid gland itself. And this is not the entire list of diseases and severe pathologies caused by a lack of this microelement.

Taking all this into account, the prevention of iodine deficiency has become the primary task of endocrinological institutes dealing with this problem. Iodine deficiency and its symptoms occur in entire regions with poor levels of this substance in water, air and food. Therefore, treatment of iodine deficiency is a state program.

Since an excess of iodine is just as dangerous as its lack, only specialists should deal with the problem of normalizing its level in the blood. Self-medication is not permissible either in diagnosis, much less in treatment of iodine deficiency.

Iodine is found in a very limited number of foods and is even more rare on the mainland. Unlike coastal areas. In this regard, signs of iodine deficiency are most often found in people living in central Russia. These are residents of the Ural Mountains, Buryatia, Tyumen region and most of Siberia. In these regions, the majority of children, just over 60%, have symptoms of iodine deficiency. In adults it is less, about 40%.

This is especially acute for people with digestive problems. With dysbacteriosis, iodine is very poorly absorbed and its deficiency in the blood occurs earlier than in a healthy person and is more likely. Therefore, along with medical therapy aimed at increasing the level of iodine in the blood, dysbacteriosis is often treated.

Symptoms of iodine deficiency

The manifestation of microelement deficiency does not appear immediately. Sometimes it takes years. Therefore, the resulting depression, weakness, and decreased mental activity are perceived as a consequence of chronic fatigue and accepted as the norm. And calmness, equanimity, composure are perceived as character traits.

After several years of chronic iodine deficiency, in women and men, more striking symptoms arise, which are simply impossible to ignore.

1. Swelling appears on the face and legs. Especially immediately after waking up in the morning.
2. The patient develops shortness of breath, which manifests itself even after slight exertion.
3. Anemia is usually a manifestation of iodine deficiency.
4. The heartbeat rhythm is disturbed. This may be an increased rhythm or a decreased one. This phenomenon is called tachycardia and, accordingly, bradycardia.
5. Excess weight. Moreover, in this situation, it does not decrease under the influence of special diets or exercise.
6. In men, there is a decrease in libido.
7. In women, the regularity of the menstrual cycle is disrupted. This increases the amount of blood released.
8. The patient has an unmotivated drop in blood pressure.

The main, visible symptom of iodine deficiency is the occurrence of goiter - an increase in the volume of thyroid tissue. A noticeable swelling appears on a person's throat. If left untreated, it can compress the airways causing suffocation and pain.

There are also psychosomatic manifestations. Little attention is paid to them, but, nevertheless, these manifestations cannot be ignored:

1. A person with iodine deficiency has difficulty remembering received information. This becomes noticeable if previously it did not take much time to memorize. That is, there is something to compare with.
2. Another manifestation is loss of short-term memory. This phenomenon manifests itself in the inability to remember whether a person closed the front door when leaving the house, or turned off the light, gas, and so on.
3. The world around us doesn’t seem any more welcoming or interesting. A person feels alien and lonely.
4. An overwhelming feeling of apathy sets in. Not a single business or hobby can captivate a person. He can lie on the couch all day, doing nothing.
5. The feeling of drowsiness does not leave, and the more a person sleeps, the greater this feeling. As a result, it takes 12-13 hours a day to sleep.
6. Emotions such as anger, irritability, and uncertainty begin to dominate in a person.

The consequences of this psychological state are depression, which in rare cases leads to suicide.

The danger of iodine deficiency

For an adult, the main danger of iodine deficiency is the development of diffuse goiter or the formation of multiple nodes and tumors in the thyroid gland. These diseases do not respond to therapy, and as a result, the affected organ has to be removed in whole or in part. Otherwise the person may suffocate.

If pregnancy is accompanied by iodine deficiency, the child may be born with a number of pathologies - dementia, deafness, weak bones and other diseases and deformities. But the worst thing is involuntary termination of pregnancy or the birth of a still child.

Prevention of iodine deficiency

In order to prevent a situation where iodine deficiency gets out of control and dangerous diseases begin to develop, it is necessary to take preventive actions. First of all, you need to regularly, at least once every six months, be tested for the content of this microelement in the blood. To do this, the patient's urine and blood are analyzed. It is important to understand that self-diagnosis, for example drawing iodine strips on the skin, cannot reflect the real picture. As a rule, the absorption of iodine by the skin does not depend on the functioning of the thyroid gland and the content of the microelement in the blood, but on the condition of the person’s skin. That is, this method cannot be used.

Based on the test results, the doctor prescribes medications containing iodine. This could be “Structum”, “Iodomarin”, “Iodine-active” or “Iodoronm”. In principle, poisoning from iodine is quite serious, but it is still possible, so you need to strictly follow the prescribed dosage and regimen of taking the drug.

Under normal conditions, you need to eat right. That is, you should include iodine-rich foods in your diet. As a rule, these are sea or ocean fish, shellfish, mussels, shrimp and seaweed.

You can add iodized salt to your food. It is sold in grocery stores. You can use it as usual, with a small exception - only ready-made dishes can be salted with this salt. It cannot be boiled or boiled; heat treatment destroys the iodine contained in the salt.

But not only salt is iodized. Iodine is specially added to bread, milk and a number of other essential products, even in production. This is the implementation of a state program to prevent iodine deficiency for regions with low iodine content. When purchasing such products, you only need to check for the presence of iodine in their composition. This is indicated on the label. It is best to create an individual diet, relying on help in this matter from a nutritionist. At the same time, providing him with the results of tests for iodine content in the blood.

About the most important things: Iodine deficiency, cocoa, back pain, headaches, consequences of diets Iodine deficiency. Thyroid g. Iodine-rich foods. Foods High in Iodine 9 signs of iodine deficiency in the body. Iodine deficiency. Causes, symptoms and solution Iodine deficiency. Symptoms, causes and treatments Lack of iodine in the body

Iodine plays a vital role for normal human development. It is part of the thyroid hormones (thyroxine and triiodothyronine), which is responsible for a whole “bouquet” of functions: contractility of the heart muscle, blood cholesterol levels, body weight, skin condition, nervous system function, mental activity, and so on. The problem is that our body does not produce iodine on its own, and its deficiency can lead to very disastrous results. All young parents should take this into account, since the greatest damage can be caused to the youngest people (according to UNICEF, the percentage of decline in IQ in a constant population is 10-15 percent).

In early childhood, iodine deficiency has a harmful effect on the development of hearing and the musculoskeletal system, and inhibits the overall development of the child (even to the point of cretinism). In developed countries that care about the health of the nation (Switzerland, Austria), special products fortified with iodine are sold - iodized butter, bread. There is no iodine deficiency in Japan, and its inhabitants have very high intelligence, enviable working capacity and live a very long time. Experts are convinced that the Japanese phenomenon is associated, first of all, with the fact that the Japanese eat a lot of fish, seafood and seaweed, while they receive 7-10 times more organic iodine than we do.

What happens when iodine enters the body?

Iodine enters our body with water and food, it is absorbed and begins to produce the hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine. The remaining glands use them for their work, and the body continues to live actively and be in good shape. This is how iodine affects the thyroid gland and other parts of the body, as well as the health and potential of our body.

Iodine helps our body absorb food, cope with stress, and fight viruses and germs. When enough iodine enters the body, a person feels energetic and cheerful. He has enough energy for mental and physical activity. The body has good vital potential and its cells are restored quickly.

They are developing well, they are healthy, active, fully developing mentally and physically. If there is not enough iodine in the diet, or something has caused its deficiency, then the child feels constant fatigue, he is lethargic, lethargic, mental potential decreases, and the reaction speed drops significantly. Nervousness appears, the thyroid gland suffers. All systems of a child’s body work under increased load and become significantly weakened. This is why iodine deficiency is most dangerous for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children.

You can conduct a basic test for “iodine content”. You need to take a cotton swab, dip it in a five percent iodine tincture and apply an iodine mesh on the inside of the forearm. After 2 hours, check if the iodine lines have disappeared without a trace, then this means that there are some problems with iodine in the body. This means that the child needs to be shown to a doctor - an endocrinologist. But under no circumstances prescribe treatment on your own, since an excess of iodine can also cause serious problems for the body, and all drug prescriptions should be carried out by a doctor, based on research results.

Signs of iodine deficiency

Iodine deficiency can be recognized by the following signs:

- decreased immunity - the child begins to get sick more often;

- problems of the emotional sphere - nervousness, lethargy, drowsiness;

- swelling of the limbs, face, and around the eyes appears;

- problems with the cardiovascular system - arrhythmia, increased or decreased blood pressure

- decrease in hemoglobin in the blood.

Prevention of iodine deficiency

How much iodine should a child receive?

Required iodine intake for people of different ages

according to WHO

What is it? Our body receives iodine mainly from food. The richest in iodine are sea fish, seafood, fish oil, and seaweed (the iodine content in these products is about 800-1000 mcg/100 g). Therefore, prevention of iodine deficiency is, first of all, eating iodine-containing foods.

Sea vegetable

There are more than 70 types of algae that can be eaten. Depending on the type of algae and the time of their collection, they contain 50-700 mcg for every 100 g. The most popular among us is kelp or seaweed; in addition to iodine, it also contains active substances that help the body absorb this iodine. Laminaria is also included in a child’s diet because it is rich in other essential vitamins (B1, B2, B12, C, carotene) and minerals (iron, phosphorus, bromine). So, it contains 4 times more vitamin C than lemon. But it is not recommended by nutritionists to give it to children earlier than 1.5 years. It is useful to consume seaweed if you are prone to constipation (if there are no inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract), as it stimulates intestinal motor function.

Seaweed can be used in home cooking either on its own or as an addition to salads and vinaigrettes. Not all kids will like it, so you can be a little tricky and add small portions to various side dishes. It is better to buy seaweed for children in its natural form, and not in the form of ready-to-eat salads, to which flavorings and spices have been added. You can make a very nutritious and healthy snack from seaweed - it’s great not only for children, but also for adults!

Delicacies

Salmon fish caviar (chum salmon, pink salmon, salmon) - red caviar, and sturgeon caviar (beluga, sturgeon, stellate sturgeon) - black caviar are equivalent in their biological value. Even though caviar contains about 170 mcg of iodine per 100 g, and is a valuable dietary product (due to the high content of proteins, fats and fat-soluble A, E and B), you should not get carried away with it at all. Of course, it can be used to feed patients with anemia, tuberculosis, rickets, exhaustion and iodine deficiency, but the problem is that it usually comes to our table in canned form. Since caviar is a very perishable product, when preserving it, naturally, preservatives are used (namely, methenamine, which is a strong poison). Of course, if you live in an area where these types of fish are harvested, and you have the opportunity to consume caviar in a minimally processed form, then there is no such problem. But the vast majority of people eat canned caviar from jars. In addition, it contains too much salt, as for a baby, and, due to the high content of nutrients, it is an allergen. Therefore, caviar should not be given to children under 1.5 years of age, and even then 1 teaspoon 2-4 times a month will be more than enough.

golden fish

Fish is a very good source of iodine for baby food. For the children's menu, you need to choose low-fat varieties. Flounder, cod, catfish are rich in iodine, and most of it is found in cod liver (approximately 370 mcg per 100 g), in cod - 130 mcg, in sea bass - 145 mcg. You can read about the benefits of fish and how to introduce it to your baby in the article about. Remember that iodine is lost during long-term storage and cooking, so try to cook the fish in one piece, avoid stewing or boiling for too long, and even better, steam it. There can be no salted, smoked, pickled, dried fish for a baby, due to the high content of uric acid salts, sodium and other flavoring additives, which do not give anything good to the child’s body.

You can prepare a very tasty and healthy fish soup for your child (provided you are not allergic to fish). This is great too!

Where else can iodine be found?

Shrimp, crabs, squid, mussels, octopus - all seafood is distinguished by an abundance of vitamins, minerals, protein value, easy digestibility and calorie content. This is a wonderful recharge for children's blood vessels, heart, brain and, of course, the thyroid gland. Only shrimp contain approximately 110 mcg of iodine per 100 g. All these delicacies have a very beneficial effect on the composition and coagulability of the blood, and therefore are useful for anemia. But you need to be careful, just like fish and seafood are strong allergens! Therefore, all this can be included in the baby’s menu from the age of two!

Seafood meat is very tender, and the main thing is not to overcook it (5 minutes, no more), otherwise it becomes rubbery-hard.

Young gourmets usually like a salad with eggs, rice, herbs and seafood. Be careful with mussels - they are sea filters, so before you treat your little one to them, make sure they are caught in environmentally friendly areas.

Iodine is present in some vegetables, fruits, cottage cheese, milk, cheeses, and baked goods. To replenish iodine reserves, it is recommended to eat walnuts, feijoa, and persimmon.

Prevention of iodine deficiency- This is not only food rich in iodine. At least once a year, try to take your baby to the sea. After all, the valuable element enters the child’s body both from the air, which in the sea zone is very saturated with iodine salts, and from sea water through the skin when the baby splashes in the sea. And in coastal areas, fish and seafood are fresh and of high quality.

The table below will help you figure out what foods to include in your baby’s diet and in what quantities for prevention of iodine deficiency.

Table of iodine content in foods:

May our children always be healthy!