Iodine & Memory

Iodine is an essential micronutrient occurring naturally in soil and water, and is present in a variety of dietary sources. Iodine is required for fetal and infant central nervous system development and cognitive functioning. Iodine deficiencies during infancy and childhood can severely affect cognitive and motor functioning, and are also among the leading causes of preventable mental retardation. Because of its crucial role in cognitive health, iodine helps to support memory, and consuming proper levels of dietary iodine may help to protect against dementia and memory loss.

Iodine and Health

Iodine is a necessary component of the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine, both of which are required for fetal and infant cognitive development. The thyroid depends on iodine for proper hormone regulation;and in the absence of adequate levels, the thyroid swells and can develop a condition known as goiter. Without iodine, thyroid hormones would not be able to perform their crucial functions in protein synthesis, macronutrient and vitamin metabolism, and bone growth.

Iodine and Memory

Memory is a broad term used to describe knowledge acquisition and recall. Memory is typically classified as either short or long term. Short-term memory relates to information retention over a period of minutes, hours or days. Long-term memory consists of facts, emotional recollections and skills, such as driving or cooking, stored in the mind. Iodine potentially affects both short and long-term memory because of its importance to neurological health as well as motor skill development and functioning.

Supporting Research

The relationship between iodine deficiency and early childhood cognitive impairment is widely documented, and according to the World Health Organization, this strong association is the primary reason for iodine fortification in salt. Recent research has begun to investigate possible linkages between iodine and short-term memory, with implications for the relationship between iodine deficiencies and dementia. A December 2009 study published in the "East African Journal of Public Health" observed that deficient iodine levels appeared to decrease short-term memory in children. Research appearing in the November 2009 "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found evidence to suggest that even mild iodine deficiencies may impair memory in childhood and limit a child's ability to express his intellectual potential.

Sources of Iodine

The levels of iodine occurring in water and food sources depend on the amounts present in the earth's soil, which vary greatly between regions. Iodine-rich food sources include seaweed, fish, dairy, beans and legumes, corn, prunes, and bananas. In response to public health campaigns led by the WHO, salt iodization has been widespread since 1996 and is believed to be effective in countering dietary deficiencies. The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements reports that iodine supplements are effective in treating mild forms of deficiency, and that the body can absorb as much as 96.4 percent of supplemental iodine when it is combined with potassium.

Caution

Iodine deficiencies can incur very severe consequences and are a leading cause of developmental cognitive impairment. If you are pregnant or lactating, it is essential that you obtain sufficient amounts of iodine to prevent brain damage to your child and related problems in memory.