Health
Doctors fear iodine deficiency is returning
A 13-year-old boy came to the clinic with a rapidly swelling neck. Doctors were perplexed, but tests ruled out their initial suspicions. However, further testing revealed exactly what they and the boy were missing. It's iodine. A century ago, iodine deficiency affected children in large areas of the country. In one of the great public health success stories of the 20th century, iodine essentially disappeared after some food manufacturers started adding it to table salt, bread, and other foods. However, due to changes in dietary habits and food manufacturing, people's iodine intake is currently decreasing. Although most people still get enough, researchers are increasingly reporting low iodine levels in pregnant women and other people, raising concerns about the effects on newborns. Additionally, reports of iodine deficiency in children are extremely rare, but are continuing to increase. “This needs to get people's attention,” said Dr. Monica Serrano Gonzalez, a physician at Brown University who treated the boy in Providence in 2021. , Rhode Island. What is iodine? Iodine is a trace element found in seawater and some soils (mainly in coastal areas). It was discovered by chance in 1811 by a French chemist when an experiment using seaweed ash produced a purple vapor. The name iodine comes from the Greek word meaning purple. Later that century, scientists began to understand that humans need a certain amount of iodine to regulate their metabolism and maintain health, and that it is important for the development of brain function in children. . A sign of iodine deficiency is a swelling in the neck known as a goiter. The thyroid gland in the neck uses iodine to produce hormones that regulate heart rate and other body functions. When there is a lack of iodine, the thyroid gland overworks to compensate for the lack of iodine, causing it to enlarge. In the early 20th century, goiter was very common among children in some parts of the interior of the United States, especially in the Southeast. The Goiter Belt stretches from Appalachia and the Great Lakes to the northwestern United States. Some of the children were abnormally short, had hearing impairments, were intellectually delayed, and had other symptoms of the syndrome once known as “cretinism.” Adding Iodine to Salt Public health experts have realized that feeding everyone seaweed and seafood won't solve the problem, but iodine can essentially be sprayed into table salt. Iodized salt first became available in 1924. By the 1950s, more than 70% of U.S. households were using iodized table salt. Bread and other foods were also fortified with iodine, making iodine deficiency rare. But eating habits have changed. Processed foods now make up a large portion of the American diet, and although processed foods are high in salt, they do not have added iodine. Major bread brands no longer add iodine. In the case of a 13-year-old boy, he had mild autism and was a picky eater, eating mostly only certain brands of bread and peanut butter. And for those who use salt in their food, the trend right now is to use kosher salt. , Himalayan salt or other non-iodized products “People forget why salt contains iodine,” says Dr. Elizabeth Pierce of Boston Medical Center. She is the leader of the Iodine Global Network, a non-governmental organization working to eliminate iodine deficiency. She noted that from the 1970s to the 1990s, iodine levels were reported to have declined by 50% among Americans surveyed. How much iodine is enough? Experts say most Americans still get enough iodine from their diets, although overall declines have occurred. But doctors worry this doesn't apply to women and children, who are more susceptible to iodine deficiency. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical societies recommend that all pregnant and breastfeeding women consume 150 micrograms of iodine daily. It can be taken with 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon of iodized table salt. Over the past 15 years or so, researchers in the United States have increasingly reported mild iodine deficiency in pregnant women. A Michigan State University study of about 460 pregnant women in Lansing found that about a quarter of them weren't getting enough nutrition. Many prenatal vitamins do not contain iodine, noted study lead author Gene Carver. That's why doctors recommend that pregnant or breastfeeding women check the labels to make sure they're taking multivitamins and prenatal supplements that contain iodine. Some studies have linked even mild iodine deficiency to lower IQ and language delays in children, but there is debate as to exactly what level the problem is. Experts say there hasn't been enough research to establish how iodine deficiency has affected the U.S. population in recent years. Dr. Serrano-Gonzalez said she and her colleagues have seen four other cases in children at their Providence clinic, adding, “We're not seeing an increase in these cases, especially in patients with dietary restrictions. I'm concerned about that,” he said.
A 13-year-old boy came to the clinic with a rapidly swelling neck. Doctors were perplexed.
After testing, the initial suspicions were ruled out. But further tests revealed exactly what they and the boy were missing. It was iodine.
A century ago, iodine deficiency affected a wide range of children across the country. One of the great public health success stories of the 20th century, it essentially disappeared after some food manufacturers started adding it to table salt, bread, and other foods.
Today, however, people's iodine intake is decreasing due to changes in diet and food manufacturing.
Although most people still get enough, researchers are increasingly reporting low iodine levels in pregnant women and other people, raising concerns about the effects on newborns. Also, the number of reported cases of iodine deficiency in children is very small but increasing.
“This needs to get people's attention,” said Dr. Monica Serrano Gonzalez, a physician at Brown University who treated the boy in Providence, Rhode Island, in 2021.
What is iodine?
Iodine is a trace element found in seawater and some soils (mainly in coastal areas). It was discovered by chance in 1811 by a French chemist when an experiment using seaweed ash produced a purple vapor. The name iodine comes from the Greek word meaning purple.
Later that century, scientists began to understand that humans need a certain amount of iodine to regulate their metabolism and maintain health, and that it is important for the development of brain function in children. .
One sign of iodine deficiency is swelling in the neck known as goiter. The thyroid gland in the neck uses iodine to produce hormones that regulate heart rate and other body functions. When there is a lack of iodine, the thyroid gland overworks and enlarges to compensate for the lack of iodine.
In the early 20th century, goiter was very common in children in certain areas of the interior of the United States, particularly in the “goiter belt,” which stretches from Appalachia and the Great Lakes to the northwestern United States. Some of the children were abnormally short, had hearing impairments, were mentally retarded, and had other symptoms of a syndrome formerly known as “cretinism.”
add iodine to salt
Public health experts realized they couldn't solve the problem by feeding everyone seaweed and seafood, but they learned that iodine could essentially be sprayed into table salt. Iodized salt first became available in 1924. By the 1950s, more than 70% of U.S. households were using iodized table salt. Bread and other foods were also fortified with iodine, making iodine deficiency rare.
But my eating habits have changed. Processed foods now make up a large portion of the American diet, and although processed foods are high in salt, they do not have added iodine. Major bread brands no longer add iodine. In the case of a 13-year-old boy, he had mild autism and was a picky eater, mainly eating only certain brands of bread and peanut butter.
And for those who add salt to their food, the trend right now is to use kosher salt, Himalayan salt, or other non-iodized products.
“People forget why salt has iodine,” said Dr. Elizabeth Pierce of Boston Medical Center. She is the leader of the Iodine Global Network, a non-governmental organization working to eliminate iodine deficiency diseases.
She pointed out that from the 1970s to the 1990s, iodine levels were reported to have declined by 50% in Americans surveyed.
How much iodine is enough?
Experts say that although overall consumption of iodine has declined, most Americans still get enough from their diets. But doctors worry this may not apply to women and children, who are more susceptible to iodine deficiency.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical societies recommend that all pregnant and breastfeeding women consume 150 micrograms of iodine daily. It can be taken with 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon of iodized table salt.
Over the past 15 years or so, researchers in the United States have increasingly reported mild iodine deficiency in pregnant women. A Michigan State University study of about 460 pregnant women in Lansing found that about a quarter were not getting enough nutrition.
Gene Kerber, lead author of the study, pointed out that many prenatal vitamins do not contain iodine. Therefore, doctors recommend that pregnant or breastfeeding women check the label to see if they are taking multivitamins or prenatal supplements that contain iodine.
Some studies have linked even mild iodine deficiency to lower IQ and language delays in children, but there is debate over exactly at what level problems begin, Pearce said. Ta.
Experts say there hasn't been enough research to establish how iodine deficiency has affected the U.S. population in recent years.
Serrano-Gonzalez said she and her colleagues have seen four other children's cases at the Providence clinic.
“I'm concerned that this trend is increasing, especially in patients with dietary restrictions,” she says.
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