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Iodine is an essential micronutrient and an integral component of the thyroid hormones, which are required for normal growth and development. The iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) encompass a spectrum of adverse health effects including goiter, cretinism, hypothyroidism, growth retardation, and increased pregnancy loss and infant mortality. This volume summarizes the current understanding of the effects of iodine deficiency as well as iodine excess. It also discusses best practices for salt iodization, the mainstay of global IDD prevention efforts, and other forms of food fortification. The effectiveness of iodine supplementation for vulnerable populations, an evolving strategy in many regions, is also described. Low level environmental exposure to chemicals such as perchlorate and thiocyanate, which competitively block thyroidal iodine uptake, appears to be ubiquitous worldwide. There has been recent concern that such environmental exposures might pose a healthhazard by inducing or aggravating underlying thyroid dysfunction. This up-to-date volume explores both the effects of iodine deficiency as well as the best strategies for IDD prevention.
List of contents
A history of Iodine Deficiency Disorder Eradication Efforts.- Assessment of Population Iodine Status.- Epidemiology of Iodine Deficiency.- Severe Iodine Deficiency.- Mild to Moderate Iodine Deficiency.- The Effects of Iodine Excess.- Salt Iodization into the Modern Era and Beyond.- Non-Salt Food Fortification Programs.- Iodine Supplementation.- Environmental Iodine Uptake inhibitors.
About the author
Elizabeth N. Pearce, MD, MSc, is Associate Professor of Medicine in the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition at Boston University School of Medicine. She also is on the management council of the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders and the co-chair of the American Thyroid Association’s Thyroid in Pregnancy Guidelines Task Force.
Summary
Iodine is an essential micronutrient and an integral component of the thyroid hormones, which are required for normal growth and development. The iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) encompass a spectrum of adverse health effects including goiter, cretinism, hypothyroidism, growth retardation, and increased pregnancy loss and infant mortality. This volume summarizes the current understanding of the effects of iodine deficiency as well as iodine excess. It also discusses best practices for salt iodization, the mainstay of global IDD prevention efforts, and other forms of food fortification. The effectiveness of iodine supplementation for vulnerable populations, an evolving strategy in many regions, is also described. Low level environmental exposure to chemicals such as perchlorate and thiocyanate, which competitively block thyroidal iodine uptake, appears to be ubiquitous worldwide. There has been recent concern that such environmental exposures might pose a healthhazard by inducing or aggravating underlying thyroid dysfunction. This up-to-date volume explores both the effects of iodine deficiency as well as the best strategies for IDD prevention.
