Iodine deficiency in humans occurs due to insufficient intake of this chemical element into the body from the outside. The human body is not able to produce iodine on its own, so it is forced to constantly replenish its necessary supply from food, sea water, biologically active additives and even air.
The role of iodine in the functioning of the body
In the modern world, almost a quarter of the entire population of the planet suffers from iodine deficiency and does not even know about it, since the signals of an extremely neglected state of iodine deficiency - a change in the size of the thyroid gland and the complications that follow - are observed in only one individual from several thousand. Why is this happening? The fact is that the human body with average immunity is endowed with a unique ability: to regulate the level of the element in the blood plasma, and does not allow the occurrence of acute "hunger".
But, if the body is seriously weakened due to any factors and the mechanism for regulating iodine balance is disturbed, the thyroid gland immediatelyfailure at the level of the endocrine system, which affects the functioning of all vital organs without exception. What are the consequences of this:
- neurological disorders;
- immunity weakening;
- violation of body heat regulation;
- decrease in the synthesis of hormones that support reproductive function.
This is just a small list of those pathological conditions that occur as a result of regular shortage of the thyroid gland, a chemical element so necessary for its work.
Causes of iodine deficiency
Since approximately 92% of iodine in the human body comes from food, the main reason for the deficiency of this substance is an unbalanced diet, which lacks or contains insufficient amounts of fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, as well as sea fish, red meat and mushrooms.
Another food-related cause of iodine deficiency is local soils depleted of this halogen. People who prefer to eat fruits and vegetables that grow exclusively in ecologically unfavorable areas of their residence feel problems with thyroid he alth even if they follow dietary standards. You can compensate for the lack of iodine in the body by including in the diet products artificially enriched with it, or biologically active supplements with this element.
Pregnant women are at risk. The standard rate of iodine, calculated for an adult, is not enough for a woman in position, because her body is nowconsumes one and a half to two times more nutrients than in the normal state. The way out is to consume foods rich in iodine in larger quantities, reducing the proportion of low-nutrient and “empty” dishes in the daily diet: pasta, packaged juices, convenience foods, bakery and confectionery.
Recommendations for teens who also need more of this element will be given below. Now we note that the lack of this most important element in the body of a child can lead to serious consequences - up to the development of dementia.
Iodine deficiency symptoms
Such obvious signs of iodine deficiency as a visual enlargement of the thyroid gland with concomitant impairment of respiratory and swallowing functions become noticeable only as a result of a long and stable "hidden hunger". Symptoms of iodine deficiency in the body, indicating this at the initial stage of the pathology, are not so easy to distinguish, since they have to be differentiated from a wide range of various possible diagnoses.
Doctors recommend conducting an affordable diagnosis for iodine deficiency when several signs from the list below appear. They can be expressed in varying degrees, but are always unusual for the patient's previous condition:
- metabolic disorder - rapid weight gain, constipation, morning swelling of the face and limbs, in which diuretics are powerless;
- a sharp deterioration in the condition of hair, skin, nails - they become lifeless, as if coveredgray coating;
- emotional destabilization - hysteria, tearfulness, aggressiveness, a tendency to depression, as well as constant fatigue and a clear deterioration in memory;
- weakened immunity, expressed in frequent and protracted colds, reduced regenerative capacity of the body;
- interruptions in the work of the cardiovascular system;
- deterioration of blood quality and clotting;
- libido disorder.
Of course, not all symptoms of iodine deficiency in the human body occur simultaneously and are so pronounced that they can be immediately identified as a pathology, and not a random factor. The main recurring, or already established as the norm, moment should alert - this is the inability to sleep, although the same amount of time is allotted for sleep as before, and chronic fatigue, sometimes turning into apathy.
Lack of iodine in the body of women and men
In girls and women of reproductive age, iodine deficiency can manifest itself as another specific symptom - these are jumps in the menstrual cycle or a change in the nature of menstruation: excessive profusion or impoverishment of spotting. You can not ignore the symptoms of iodine deficiency in the body in women, as in the future this may affect the ability to conceive a child, lead to spontaneous miscarriages and early onset of menopause.
Men who poorly monitor their diet will get another problem - a decrease in erectile function, a violation of spermogenesis, up to the developmentprostatitis and prostate adenoma. In addition, it is men who, due to a more intense schedule of the day and increased energy costs, are more likely to experience mental breakdowns associated with a lack of iodine, as well as irritability and outbursts of aggression.
The normal daily iodine intake index for an adult is 150 mcg.
Iodine deficiency in pregnant women
If a woman has a lack of iodine already during pregnancy and there is a risk of pathologies of intrauterine development of the fetus, you should carefully start introducing natural food containing this element into the diet and try not to eat foods that, on the contrary, worsen its digestibility: corn, lentils, lettuce, peanuts, horseradish, turnips, starchy foods. With symptoms of iodine deficiency in a woman, it is important for her to insist on the need for a special blood test for the presence of hormones produced by the thyroid gland in it: thyroid-stimulating hormone, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, calcitonin. The study for the entire period of pregnancy is done three times.
With symptoms of iodine deficiency in the body of a woman during pregnancy, it is enough to consume approximately 250 mcg of the substance per day with food and liquid.
Iodine deficiency in a child
Symptoms of iodine deficiency in a child's body at the metabolic, immune and mental level will not differ from those that are characteristic of adults. Only the consumption rates of the element will vary depending on the age of the baby:
- from 0 to a year - 50 mcg;
- from one year old to 6 years old - 90 mcg;
- 6 to 12 years - 120 mcg.
Teenagers can slightly exceed the indicated rate (up to 200 mcg of the substance per day). It has to do with puberty. At the same time, one must not forget that an excess of an element, due to uncontrolled intake of drugs or dietary supplements, leads to the same deplorable consequences as acute “hidden hunger”.
What is the danger of iodine imbalance for children
Children's body, which does not have special developmental pathologies and congenital problems with the thyroid gland, rarely experiences severe iodine deficiency, because it instinctively regulates the need for certain products that help maintain the balance of this element in the blood.
Parents should not sound the alarm if a child for no apparent reason suddenly begins to refuse vegetables or fruits included in the list of foods rich in iodine. In this way, the baby subconsciously protects his body from an overabundance of a capricious element. Or, conversely, a child's aversion to food that delays the absorption of iodine may indicate the need to make up for the resulting deficiency.
I would especially like to warn parents who are fanatically pursuing the idea of using artificially iodized foods in cooking - s alt, bread, spices. The volume of iodine entering the body in this way is almost impossible to control. As a result, the thyroid gland begins to synthesize hormones in an enhanced mode or uncontrollably: some in large quantities, others in smaller quantities. The result of suchimbalance can become Graves' disease, furunculosis, destruction of dental tissue, violation of thermoregulation.
Foods containing iodine
People who find themselves lacking iodine, as a rule, make the same mistake: they start taking preparations containing it at the same time and form the daily menu in such a way that it consists of more than 70% of products, actively supplying the body with this element. At best, the result of such an unsystematic transition to a “corrected” diet is a temporary deterioration in well-being, which makes it clear in time that this approach to solving the problem is wrong.
At the first signs of iodine deficiency in the body, it is enough for a person to drink one course of special preparations with a moderate content of the element in the composition (“Idomarin”, “Potassium iodide”, “Iodine balance”, etc.) and make sure that the diet is 35- 40% consisted of the following products:
- fresh greens (all);
- vegetables: potatoes, bell peppers, any cabbage, beets, beans, soybeans, tomatoes, eggplants, garlic and radishes;
- various berries and fresh fruits: persimmons, pineapples, black currants, lemons and other citrus fruits, bananas;
- cereals: buckwheat and millet;
- sea fish and all seafood;
- dairy products: cheeses, butter, fresh milk;
- chicken and quail eggs;
- mushrooms;
- beef.
One should take into account the fact that a third of the iodine will necessarily evaporate during the cooking process. Best when rawand heat-treated foods with iodine will be consumed in a 2:1 ratio.
Diagnosis of "hidden hunger"
It is possible to diagnose, with appropriate symptoms, a lack of iodine in the body of a woman or a man without contacting a medical laboratory. It is enough to stock up on a bottle of 5% alcohol solution of iodine and a cotton swab. There are two methods to test yourself for iodine deficiency:
- Drawing a grid. Just before going to bed, a small iodine grid of 9-12 cells is drawn on the forearm or inner thigh. In the morning, evaluate the drawing. If it has disappeared or is practically invisible, the body clearly needs an important element.
- Test "Three stripes". Also, before going to bed, you need to draw three iodine strips above the elbow: the first is thin and translucent, the second is clearly visible and clear, the third is circled several times and very bright. If only a thin strip disappears by morning, there is no iodine deficiency. If you can not distinguish the second band, you need to improve the quality of nutrition. If the third line has also disappeared, you need to seriously reconsider your diet.
Unfortunately, these almost unscientific methods are the only way to recognize a pathology at its very beginning, so they are successfully and uncontestedly used in home diagnostics.
Iodotherapy
Therapy with a medical solution of iodine for diseases not associated with external damage to the skin is not recognized by modern science, but there are people who see in this complex chemical element almostpanacea for all diseases. The essence of this treatment is to apply an iodine grid to certain parts of the body, corresponding to specific internal organs.
For chronic back pain associated with a herniated disc or s alt deposits in the spinal column, it is recommended to draw thick vertical lines with a solution along the spine through the inner corners of the shoulder blades. Lines perpendicular to the spine are superimposed at an equal distance between the intercostal arches.
In case of pulmonary and bronchial diseases, a frequent grid is drawn on the middle sternal region with the capture of the clavicles. If the joints hurt or there are bruises, then the iodine grid is drawn directly on the place that causes pain.
Contraindications for iodine therapy
First of all, it must be remembered that the contents of a 5% liquid solution purchased at a pharmacy are not suitable for internal use and application to mucous membranes. Alcohol composition and highly concentrated oral preparations should not be used without special medical prescription for diseases such as:
- open tuberculosis;
- hemorrhagic diathesis;
- furunculosis;
- acne;
- Individual intolerance to a chemical element.
With great caution, you should start a second course of treatment with iodine preparations. It will be necessary to stop therapy immediately if a deterioration in well-being follows, symptoms such as headache, rashes on the body, palpitations and dizziness appear. At the first sign of iodism,see a doctor immediately.
