Knowra Iodine deficiency Iodine deficiency Iodine deficiency occurs when the body does not receive enough iodine to make adequate thyroid hormones. It can cause thyroid enlargement, hypothyroidism, and impaired development, especially during pregnancy and early childhood.
Thyroid hormone : Hormones produced by the thyroid gland that regulate metabolism and support growth and development. Iodine is an essential ingredient in the thyroid hormones whose production deficiency disrupts.
Congenital hypothyroidism : Thyroid hormone deficiency present at birth, which can impair growth and brain development if untreated. Severe maternal iodine deficiency can contribute to thyroid hormone shortage in the newborn.
Universal salt iodization : A public-health strategy that adds iodine to salt intended for human consumption. It prevents deficiency by delivering small, regular amounts through a widely used food.
Iodine in soil : The amount and distribution of iodine in soils, which influence iodine levels in locally produced foods. Low soil iodine helps explain why deficiency is common in some inland and mountainous regions.
Goiter : An enlargement of the thyroid gland, often visible as swelling at the front of the neck. When iodine is scarce, thyroid stimulation can enlarge the gland as it struggles to make hormones.
Cretinism : A historical medical term for severe, irreversible developmental impairment associated with congenital hypothyroidism. It names a profound outcome of iodine deficiency during fetal and early-childhood development.
Iodized salt : Table or cooking salt fortified with iodine compounds to prevent dietary iodine deficiency. It is the most familiar vehicle for population-level iodine supplementation.
Endemic goiter : A high prevalence of goiter in a population, historically associated with low iodine intake. It was the visible population-level sign that helped identify regional iodine deficiency.
Hypothyroidism : A condition in which the body has insufficient thyroid hormone activity. Severe iodine deficiency can leave the body unable to maintain normal thyroid hormone levels.
Neurodevelopment : The processes by which the nervous system forms, matures, and acquires function. Fetal and infant brains depend on adequate thyroid hormone, making deficiency especially consequential early in life.
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