A person’s iodine deficiency arises from the insufficient entry of this chemical element into the body from the outside. The human body is not able to independently produce iodine, so it is forced to constantly replenish its necessary supply of food products, sea water, dietary supplements 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 a lack of iodine and does not even know about it, because signals about the extremely neglected state of iodine deficiency - a change in the size of the thyroid gland and the subsequent complications - are observed in only one individual out of 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 element content in blood plasma, and does not allow the occurrence of acute "hunger".
But, if the body due to any factors is seriously weakened and the mechanism of regulation of iodine balance is disturbed, the thyroid gland immediately malfunctions at the endocrine system level, which affects the functioning of all vital organs, without exception. What consequences does this entail:
- neuropsychiatric disorders;
- weakened immunity;
- violation of body heat regulation ;
- a decrease in the synthesis of hormones that support reproductive function.
This is only a small list of those pathological conditions that occur as a result of regular thyroid gland shortage of the chemical element, so necessary for its work.
Causes of iodine deficiency
Since approximately 92% of iodine enters the human body with food, the main reason for the deficiency of this substance is an unbalanced diet, which lacks or does not contain enough fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, as well as sea fish, red meat and mushrooms.
Another cause of iodine deficiency, also associated with food, is the local halogen-depleted soils. People who prefer to eat fruits and vegetables, growing exclusively in ecologically unfavorable areas of their place of residence, feel problems with the health of the thyroid gland even when observing nutritional 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 additives with this element.
At risk are pregnant women. The standard norm of iodine, calculated for an adult, is not enough for a woman in a position, because her body now consumes one and a half to two times more nutrients than in a normal state. The way out is to consume more iodine-rich foods, reducing the proportion of low-nutritional and "empty" dishes in your daily diet: pasta, packaged juices, convenience foods, bakery and confectionery products.
Recommendations for adolescent children 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 dire consequences - up to the development of dementia.
Symptoms of iodine deficiency
Such obvious signs of iodine deficiency as a visual enlargement of the thyroid gland with a concomitant violation of the respiratory and swallowing functions, become noticeable only as a result of a long and stable "hidden hunger". The 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 different diagnoses.
Doctors recommend an accessible diagnosis of iodine deficiency if several signs appear from the following list. They can be expressed in varying degrees, but are always unusual for the patient’s previous state:
- 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 covered with a gray coating;
- emotional destabilization - hysteria, tearfulness, aggressiveness, a tendency to depression, as well as constant fatigue and apparent memory impairment;
- weakening of the immune system, expressed in frequent and protracted colds, a decrease in the regenerative capabilities of the body;
- interruptions in the work of the cardiovascular system;
- deterioration in the quality and coagulation of blood;
- libido disorder.
Of course, not all symptoms of iodine deficiency in the human body arise simultaneously and are so pronounced that they can be immediately identified as a pathology, and not a random factor. The main recurring moment, or already established as the norm, should be alerted by the inability to get enough sleep, although sleep takes as much time as before, and chronic fatigue, sometimes turning into apathy.
Iodine deficiency in women and men
In girls and women of reproductive age, iodine deficiency can manifest itself as another specific symptom - it is a jump 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 of women, since in the future this may affect the ability to conceive a child, lead to spontaneous miscarriages and the early onset of menopause.
Men who poorly monitor their diet will receive another problem - a decrease in erectile function, impaired spermogenesis, up to the development of prostatitis and prostate adenoma. In addition, it is in men, in connection with a more intense schedule of the day and increased energy consumption, mental breakdowns associated with iodine deficiency are more likely to occur, as well as irritability and outbreaks of aggression.
The normal daily iodine intake index for an adult is 150 mcg.
Iodine deficiency in pregnant women
If a woman’s iodine deficiency was discovered already during pregnancy and there is a risk of fetal developmental abnormalities, you should carefully start introducing natural food containing this element into the diet and try not to eat foods that, on the contrary, impair 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: thyroid-stimulating hormone, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, calcitonin. A study for the entire period of pregnancy is done three times.
With symptoms of iodine deficiency in a woman's body during pregnancy, it is sufficient to consume approximately 250 micrograms of the substance per day with food and liquid.
Lack of iodine in a child
Symptoms of iodine deficiency in the child's body at the metabolic, immune and mental levels 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 a year to 6 years - 90 mcg;
- from 6 years to 12 - 120 mcg.
Adolescents can slightly exceed the indicated norm (up to 200 μg of the substance per day). This is due to puberty in children. At the same time, one must not forget that an overabundance of the element, due to the uncontrolled intake of drugs or dietary supplements, leads to the same deplorable result as acute “latent hunger”.
What is the danger of iodine imbalance for children
A child’s body, which does not have special pathologies of development 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 be alarmed if a child suddenly begins to refuse vegetables or fruits that are on the list of foods rich in iodine for no apparent reason. In this way, the baby subconsciously protects his body from an overabundance of the capricious element. Or, conversely, an aversion to food awakening in a child, which delays the absorption of iodine, may indicate the need to fill up the deficit.
I would especially like to warn parents who fanatically pursue the idea of using artificially iodized products in cooking - salt, bread, seasonings. The amount 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 such an imbalance can be a bazedova disease, furunculosis, destruction of tooth tissue, violation of thermoregulation.
Food containing iodine
People who find themselves deficient in iodine, as a rule, make the same mistake: they start taking drugs containing it at the same time and form a daily menu so that it consists of more than 70% of products that actively supply the body with this element. In the best case, 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 drugs with a moderate content of an element in the composition ("Idomarin", "Potassium iodide", "Iodine balance", etc.) and make sure that the diet for 35-40% consists of the following products:
- fresh greens (all);
- vegetables: potatoes, bell peppers, any cabbage, beets, beans, soybeans, tomatoes, eggplant, 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.
It should be taken into account the fact that a third of iodine will necessarily disappear in the process of cooking. It is best if raw and thermally processed foods with iodine are consumed in a 2: 1 ratio.
Diagnosis of "hidden hunger"
With the corresponding symptoms, a diagnosis of iodine deficiency in a woman or man’s body can be diagnosed without contacting a medical laboratory. It is enough to stock up with a bottle of 5% alcohol solution of iodine and a cotton swab. There are two methods for testing yourself for iodine deficiency:
- Grid drawing. Before bedtime, a small iodine mesh of 9-12 cells is drawn on the forearm or inner side of the thigh. In the morning they appreciate the drawing. If it has disappeared or is almost invisible, the body clearly needs an important element.
- Test "Three stripes." Also, before you go to bed, you need to draw three iodine stripes 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 in the morning only a thin strip disappears, there is no iodine deficiency. If you cannot distinguish the second lane, you need to improve the quality of food. If the third dash has dissolved, you need to seriously review your diet.
Unfortunately, these almost unscientific methods are the only way to recognize a pathology at the very beginning, so they are successfully and uncontested in home diagnostics.
Iodotherapy
Modern science does not recognize the therapy of iodine with a medical solution of iodine not related to external injuries of the skin, but there are people who see in this complex chemical element almost a panacea for all diseases. The essence of this treatment is to apply an iodine lattice to certain parts of the body that correspond to specific internal organs.
For chronic back pain associated with an intervertebral hernia or salt deposition in the spinal column, it is recommended that the solution draw thick vertical lines along the spine through the inner corners of the shoulder blades. Lines perpendicular to the spine are laid at equal distances between the intercostal arches.
In pulmonary and bronchial diseases, a frequent mesh is drawn on the middle sternal region with clavicle capture. If joints hurt or there are bruises, then the iodine lattice is drawn directly at the place that causes the pain.
Contraindications to iodine therapy
First of all, we must remember 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 can not be used without special medical prescriptions for diseases such as:
- open form of tuberculosis;
- hemorrhagic diathesis;
- furunculosis;
- acne;
- individual intolerance to a chemical element.
With great care, you should start a second course of treatment with iodine preparations. It will be necessary to stop therapy immediately if there is a deterioration in well-being, symptoms such as headache, rash on the body, palpitations and dizziness will appear. At the first signs of iodism, you should immediately consult a doctor.