Iodine is a trace mineral that your body needs to function properly. Your thyroid uses iodine to synthesize a hormone called thyroxine. The thyroid helps regulate your body's energy production, metabolism, growth and excess fat. It also affects cognition and speech, as well as the health of nails, skin, teeth and hair.
Goiter
Insufficient iodine can lead to goiter, which occurs because your thyroid can't produce enough thyroxine to meet your body's needs and consequently swells. The most obvious symptom is a small nodule or large lump on the neck. In extreme cases, goiter can lead to breathing and swallowing difficulties as the swelling thyroid encroaches on the windpipe and esophagus. Treatments might include radioactive iodine therapy to reduce swelling, surgery to remove entirely or cut off a section of the thyroid, thyroid hormone supplementation or small doses of iodine to restore the body's natural levels.
Other Effects
Iodine insufficiency in pregnant women can cause cretinism, which is a congenital birth disease that might result in retardation. However, this is rare in the United States because iodine deficiency is uncommon. Iodine deficiency also might increase the risk of polio and uterine, ovarian and breast cancer, according to the book "Nutrition Almanac." Consuming too much iodine, or iodine poisoning, is also rare, but when it happens it can decrease thyroid function.
Significance
Regions that have iodine-poor soil, which typically are far from the sea coast, often have occupants that suffer from iodine deficiency. Iodized table salt is common in the United States, which helps prevent goiter and the other effects of iodine deficiency. Before the advent of iodized table salt, the inner region of the country was called the goiter belt, according to MedlinePlus.
Expert Insight
The recommended daily allowance of iodine is 150 mcg for people over 11 years of age. Younger children should have less, depending on age. Pregnant women should have 175 mcg, and breastfeeding women should have 200 mcg. The average person ingests 3 g of table salt a day, which results in 200 mcg of iodine intake. Iodine from other sources, such as seafood and plants grown in iodine-rich soil, leads to an estimated total average daily intake of 600 mcg of iodine.
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