While the word "iodine" tends to conjure up images of the periodic table, this mineral is more than your average element. Iodine is actually one of the most important minerals we have to include in our daily diet. In fact, not getting enough iodine can lead to serious health complications, including an enlarged thyroid or stunted growth. Although iodized salt is a major source of iodine, the mineral is also found in several other common foods, such as milk, fish and potatoes.
Significance
Iodine performs several importance tasks in the body. The Linus Pauling Institute reports that iodine is needed in the bloodstream in order for the thyroid hormones to be produced. These hormones stimulate development and growth and regulate metabolic rates and reproductive functions.
Dietary Needs
According to the Linus Pauling Institute, the Food and Nutrition Board recommends that all adults get at least 150 mcg of iodine in their diet each day. For infants and children up to 14 years of age, the recommended amount is lower. Women who are nursing or pregnant, on the other hand, require higher amounts of iodine daily. MedlinePlus advises individuals to see a physician before adjusting their personal iodine intake.
Considerations
Insufficient amounts of iodine in the diet can lead to an iodine deficiency disorder (IDD). According to the Linus Pauling Institute, these disorders may include goiter, hypothyroidism, abnormal growth or development or mental retardation. Unfortunately, an excess of iodine can also be a problem. Aurora Health Care warns that exceeding 1 mg per day of iodine can put an individual at risk for toxic goiter; this amount is more than six times that of the recommended dietary allowance for iodine.
Geography
Some areas of the world suffer from iodine-deficient soil, especially mountainous areas and flooded river valleys, notes the Linus Pauling Institute. The Himalayas, the Alps and the Andes are all regions that have poor iodine content in their soil. This is due to the fact that much of their soil has been exposed and eroded for many years.
Global Impact
The issues associated with iodine deficiencies came to the forefront in the United States in the early 20th century. Dr. David Marine tested iodized salt in an elementary school in 1916 in an effort to counteract goiter with successful results. By 1924, iodized salt was widely available in the United States, notes the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders. The results were overwhelming; in Detroit, the cases of goiter in the population dropped from 9.7 percent to 1.4 percent within just six years of the introduction of iodized salt.
Today, efforts to bring iodized salt to other parts of the world has dramatically improved the problem of iodine deficiencies in other countries. The World Health Organization reports that, as of 2007, about 30 percent of the world population does not receive proper amounts of iodine in their daily diet. This is a significant decrease since the 1990s, when serious efforts were made to bring iodized salt to other parts of the world.
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