Iodine deficiency

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
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Iodine deficiency
Synonyms
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Goiter, hypothyroidism, intellectual disability
Complications	Cretinism, developmental delay, decreased fertility
Onset
Duration
Types
Causes	Iodine deficiency in diet
Risks	Living in areas with iodine-deficient soil
Diagnosis	Urinary iodine concentration, thyroid function tests
Differential diagnosis
Prevention	Iodized salt, iodine supplements
Treatment	Iodine supplementation, thyroid hormone replacement
Medication
Prognosis	Generally good with treatment
Frequency	Affects approximately 2 billion people worldwide
Deaths

Iodine deficiency is a health problem that occurs when a person does not get enough iodine in their diet. It is a common cause of goiter and hypothyroidism.

Causes

Iodine deficiency is usually caused by a lack of iodine in the diet. This can occur in areas where the soil is low in iodine, and the food grown in that soil is therefore also low in iodine. Other causes can include a diet high in goitrogens, substances that interfere with the body's ability to use iodine.

Symptoms

The symptoms of iodine deficiency can vary depending on the severity of the deficiency. They can include:

• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Depression
• Memory problems
• Dry skin
• Hair loss
• Constipation
• Menstrual problems
• Cold intolerance

In severe cases, iodine deficiency can lead to cretinism, a condition characterized by severe physical and mental retardation.

Treatment

The treatment for iodine deficiency is to increase the intake of iodine. This can be done through diet, by eating foods high in iodine such as seafood, dairy products, and iodized salt. In some cases, iodine supplements may be recommended.

Prevention

Iodine deficiency can be prevented by ensuring a sufficient intake of iodine in the diet. This can be done by eating a balanced diet that includes foods high in iodine, and by using iodized salt.

Iodine_deficiency gallery

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  Iodine pills

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  Iodine deficiency world map - Deaths per million persons (WHO 2012)

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  Iodine deficiency world map - DALY (WHO 2004)

See also

• Goiter
• Hypothyroidism
• Cretinism

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