Low iodine harms brain
Whereas some people limit their salt intake for health reasons, cutting back on salt consumption has a downside. Having too little salt in your diet means you might not get enough iodine, says Dr Olivia Namusisi of Nsambya Hospital.
By Sandra Tumwesigye
Whereas some people limit their salt intake for health reasons, cutting back on salt consumption has a downside. Having too little salt in your diet means you might not get enough iodine, says Dr Olivia Namusisi of Nsambya Hospital.
Vegetables are normally a good source of iodine, particularly if grown on iodine-rich soil. However, iodine is found in topsoil and therefore a significant amount of iodine is lost due to soil erosion. For this reason, one cannot expect to find significant amounts of iodine in vegetables grown in areas with soil erosion. You might eat such vegetables but remain iodine-deficient simply because they were grown on iodine-deficient soils.
Dr Namusisi says iodised salt is the recommended alternative in the diet. That is why almost all salt brands available on the market are iodised, following a recommendation of the World Health Organisation. This is to make up for the failure to get enough iodine from foods naturally.
According to Dr Namusisi, research has found that “20 million people around the world have preventable brain damage due to iodine deficiency.â€
Iodine is an essential mineral for the production of thyroid hormones, which are critical to an infant’s brain development. Low intake of iodine during infancy can, therefore, result in abnormal brain development and limited intellectual development. It can even cause stillbirth. A person who lacks iodine, gets goitre and has trouble with their metabolism. The symptoms of this are weight gain, fatigue, depression and heavy periods in women.
Dr Namusisi also says “in areas where most women have goitre, more of the babies are born with a disease characterised by mental and physical retardation.†In addition, “there is a higher prevalence than usual of deafness, slowed reflexes and poor learning.â€
Iodine deficiency is also common among adolescents and pregnant women who are likely to suffer its consequences. However, while a low intake of iodine affects the brain and should be avoided, Dr Glen Maberly of Emory University’s School of Medicine says, “iodine deficiency doesn’t make people idiots but only makes them less smart.â€
Nonetheless, Dr Namusisi proposes, “a more sustainable method to ensure adequate intake of iodine and reduce iodine deficiency disorders is to make iodised salt widely available.†As an alternative, one can eat food rich in iodine.
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Whereas some people limit their salt intake for health reasons, cutting back on salt consumption has a downside. Having too little salt in your diet means you might not get enough iodine, says Dr Olivia Namusisi of Nsambya Hospital.
Vegetables are normally a good source of iodine, particularly if grown on iodine-rich soil. However, iodine is found in topsoil and therefore a significant amount of iodine is lost due to soil erosion. For this reason, one cannot expect to find significant amounts of iodine in vegetables grown in areas with soil erosion. You might eat such vegetables but remain iodine-deficient simply because they were grown on iodine-deficient soils.
Dr Namusisi says iodised salt is the recommended alternative in the diet. That is why almost all salt brands available on the market are iodised, following a recommendation of the World Health Organisation. This is to make up for the failure to get enough iodine from foods naturally.
According to Dr Namusisi, research has found that “20 million people around the world have preventable brain damage due to iodine deficiency.â€
Iodine is an essential mineral for the production of thyroid hormones, which are critical to an infant’s brain development. Low intake of iodine during infancy can, therefore, result in abnormal brain development and limited intellectual development. It can even cause stillbirth. A person who lacks iodine, gets goitre and has trouble with their metabolism. The symptoms of this are weight gain, fatigue, depression and heavy periods in women.
Dr Namusisi also says “in areas where most women have goitre, more of the babies are born with a disease characterised by mental and physical retardation.†In addition, “there is a higher prevalence than usual of deafness, slowed reflexes and poor learning.â€
Iodine deficiency is also common among adolescents and pregnant women who are likely to suffer its consequences. However, while a low intake of iodine affects the brain and should be avoided, Dr Glen Maberly of Emory University’s School of Medicine says, “iodine deficiency doesn’t make people idiots but only makes them less smart.â€
Nonetheless, Dr Namusisi proposes, “a more sustainable method to ensure adequate intake of iodine and reduce iodine deficiency disorders is to make iodised salt widely available.†As an alternative, one can eat food rich in iodine.
Ends