How to recognize iodine deficiency in the body: 10 main symptoms

Iodine deficiency occurs due to insufficient entry of this trace element into the human body from the external environment. Due to the fact that the body does not synthesize iodine, it can be obtained from food , water, vitamin complexes and even from the air. According to various studies, about a third of the world's population suffers from iodine deficiency. Joinfo.ua will tell you how the body reacts to insufficient iodine intake.

Unexpected weight gain

Iodine deficiency in the body slows down metabolism. The reason is that with a low level of microelement content, the production of thyroid hormones, which control the metabolic rate, also decreases. As a result, nutrients are stored as fat rather than used as a source of energy. In addition, a slow metabolism leads to swelling of the entire body.

Iodine deficiency manifests itself in the form of puffiness of the face, thickening of the skin, swelling of the extremities, swelling of the tongue and lips. In severe cases, hoarseness of the voice, difficulty breathing through the nose, and hearing loss may occur.

The role of iodine in the body

The trace element iodine is largely consumed by the thyroid gland, which uses it to produce the hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These substances are involved in almost all body systems and are involved in a huge number of processes, among which are:

Development and growth Normalization of blood pressure Intellectual brain function Breakdown of fats by the liver

In addition to the thyroid gland, iodine is concentrated in the mammary glands, eyes, gastric mucosa, salivary glands and cervix. Obviously, this element is especially important for women's health - the slightest deficiency of it very quickly makes itself felt in the fair half of humanity. So how to recognize iodine deficiency in a timely manner?

Heart rate changes, hypotension

The level of iodine in the body directly affects the heart rate. If the iodine level is low, the pulse will be unusually slow; if it is high, the pulse will be rapid. In addition, low blood pressure (hypotension) is often observed with iodine deficiency. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor your blood pressure and pulse using a tonometer, and in case of deviation from the norm, you should seek advice from a doctor.

Menstrual irregularities

An unstable menstrual cycle is a symptom of the initial stage of iodine deficiency, since the lack of iodine directly affects the functioning of the hormonal system. The state of iodine deficiency in women can be fraught with infertility and premature onset of menopause. Lack of iodine is no less dangerous during pregnancy: the lack of a vital element can have a detrimental effect on the intrauterine development of the fetus and lead to spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, and congenital pathologies.

Due to a decrease in metabolic activity, iodine deficiency is often accompanied by iron deficiency anemia, a disease associated with insufficiency of iron in the blood. In this case, anemia is usually of an unexpressed nature and, as a rule, manifests itself already in the mature stage of hypothyroidism. The main symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are tinnitus, dizziness, weakness, and pallor.

Causes of iodine deficiency and risk groups

The causes of iodine deficiency are:

• insufficient consumption of foods rich in iodine (seafood);
• using regular table salt for cooking, not iodized salt;
• distance from the sea and, as a consequence, the absence of iodine in the inhaled air;
• alcohol abuse;
• smoking;
• constant use of hormonal drugs;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in which iodine absorption does not occur;
• intestinal dysbiosis.

There are groups of people who have a higher risk of iodine deficiency. These are vegetarians and pregnant women. The latter are especially at high risk of iodine deficiency. The reason is that they need to have enough iodine in their body for themselves and the baby. The risk is also high during breastfeeding, as the baby consumes iodine through breast milk. Therefore, it is important to monitor your iodine levels during pregnancy, along with other key minerals such as iron and calcium.

How to overcome iodine deficiency in the body

Dietary changes are sufficient to prevent deficiency and treat minor deviations from normal levels. Here is a list of foods that are especially rich in iodine:

Obviously, the number one dish for completely getting rid of any problems with iodine intake is seaweed - no other product can even come close to it in terms of saturation with this microelement. Its low cost is also of considerable importance - this sea plant cannot cause any damage to the family budget. Although not everyone likes the taste of this product, you only need to eat it to get rid of an extremely wide range of problems.

If you don’t like seaweed at all, try to include yogurt (its health benefits are truly immeasurable) and cranberries in your diet. Fish should be served on the table at least on one day of the week.

If there is a severe lack of iodine, it is necessary to take special preparations with this element. Almost every pharmacy has at least one or two of the following products:

• Iodomarin
• Potassium iodide
• Iodobalance
• Iodomarin
• Iodide

As we have already said, avoid self-medication: the medicine that helped your friend may be harmful in your case.

Home test for iodine deficiency

There are two methods of testing for iodine deficiency. To do this, you will need an alcohol solution of iodine and cotton swabs.

1. In the evening, before going to bed, you need to draw an iodine grid measuring 10x10 cm2 on the forearm or inner thigh. If in the morning the iodine network has almost or completely disappeared, then the body needs iodine.

2. In the evening, apply three strips to your wrist. The first strip - apply once, the second strip - apply twice, the third strip - apply iodine three times. In the morning, see the result. If only the first line has disappeared, there is no iodine deficiency. If the first and second ones have disappeared, it is necessary to reconsider the diet. If all three have disappeared, there is a reason to go to the hospital, where the doctor will prescribe blood tests and make a diagnosis.

What can lead to iodine deficiency

Iodine deficiency still remains an acute problem for both developing countries and economically prosperous countries. For example, in the United States, iodine deficiency affects every seventh woman, and in the world this condition affects approximately two hundred million people. Along with the lack of this trace element in the diet, lifestyle factors are also of great importance, due to which iodine can be excreted from the body at almost the same rate as it enters.

The main risk factors for the development of iodine deficiency are:

Lack of dietary intake of another substance important for the health of the thyroid gland - selenium Pregnancy - a woman needs to provide this substance to both herself and her child Increased levels of background radiation Smoking and drinking alcohol Use of oral contraceptives Excess of iodine antagonist substances in the body: for example, calcium and lithium Certain types foods that promote accelerated excretion of iodine: soybeans, pine nuts, flaxseeds, pears, peaches, spinach, sweet potatoes, various types of cabbage (among them the most popular are cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower)

If you experience the symptoms described above, and are also affected by the risk factors listed above, it makes sense for you to consult a doctor to be tested for iodine deficiency.

Remember: self-medication can be dangerous to health, and home diagnostic methods (the notorious “three strips of an alcoholic solution of iodine on the skin at night”) cannot be trusted at all. An experienced doctor should prescribe tests and interpret the data obtained in the laboratory.

Foods rich in iodine

The following foods will help replenish minor iodine deficiency:

• chicken and quail eggs;
• dairy products (fresh milk, cheese, butter);
• seafood: fish oil, seaweed and fatty sea fish (mackerel, salmon);
• all fresh greens;
• vegetables (carrots, green peas, potatoes, bell peppers, beets, eggplants, tomatoes, garlic);
• fruits and berries (pears, apricots, apples, persimmons, black currants, gooseberries, grapes);
• cereals (buckwheat, oatmeal, millet);
• mushrooms.

In case of iodine deficiency, the diet should consist of 35-40% of the above products. Listen to your body and if there are signs of a lack of an important microelement, do not put off visiting your doctor for too long.

Take care of yourself and be happy and healthy!

Complications

Why is iodine deficiency dangerous?

Lack of iodine leads to disturbances in the functioning of the thyroid gland. A person experiences a hormonal imbalance, and the whole body suffers from this. The disease affects the tissues of the thyroid gland itself. The patient develops nodules in the neck (goiter).

There are several stages of goiter development. At the initial stage, the thyroid gland ceases to function normally, hormones are released in small quantities, but no visible signs of the disease are detected. In the second and third stages, the tissues grow, lumps appear on the neck, and the patient is diagnosed with a goiter. To prevent dangerous complications, you need to replenish your body with the right amount of this microelement every day.

Why is iodine deficiency dangerous for pregnant women?

If a woman is carrying a child and her body does not have enough iodine, then developmental disorders may occur in the fetus. The baby may be born with problems in the functioning of the thyroid gland or mentally retarded. In more severe cases, children are stillborn.

Hormones produced by the thyroid gland take part in metabolism. When they are deficient, the symptoms in women are as follows: swelling appears (under the eyes, on the legs and arms). At the same time, body weight increases, but not because of fat accumulation, but because of fluid.

Hormones produced by the thyroid gland take part in metabolism. When they are deficient, symptoms in women are as follows: swelling appears (under the eyes, on the legs and arms). At the same time, body weight increases, but not because of fat accumulation, but because of fluid.

Approximate daily iodine requirement

How to Clinically Confirm Iodine Deficiency

If a home test indicates iodine deficiency, you need to do an analysis of the level of thyroid-stimulating hormones - T3 and T4. For laboratory testing, blood is taken from the ulnar vein. Low levels of tri- and tetraiodothyronine indicate a lack of iodine.

Normal values ​​of thyroid hormones for women:

• T3 – 2.6-5.7 pmol/l;
• T4 (thyroxine) – 10-23 pmol/l.

To exclude false positive and false negative results, you need to prepare for the analysis:

• stop taking contraceptives and other hormonal medications within 30 days;
• refuse vitamins and medications that contain iodine;
• do not drink alcoholic beverages for 3-5 days.

The test is taken in the morning on an empty stomach. It is recommended to calm down 30 minutes before blood sampling and not do physical work.

Prevention of iodine deficiency

To replenish the daily dose of iodine for preventive purposes, the body should receive about 150 mcg. A teaspoon of iodized salt contains about 400 mcg of iodine. If a person consumes 5-10 grams with food during the day, then this is enough to provide the body with iodine.

Unlike 113 states, our country does not have a law on mandatory salt iodization, so only a third of the population uses it. In addition, part of the population adheres to healthy eating rules and limits salt intake.

It should be noted that the use of iodized products is accompanied by a serious disadvantage: as a rule, inorganic iodine compounds are used to enrich them. If the norm is exceeded, an overdose develops; with prolonged use in excess, there is a risk of developing undesirable consequences: rash, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.

Safer is organic iodine from seaweed (Kelp), the use of which has no negative consequences. Today there are dietary supplements with precise iodine content on sale; many drugs have registration certificates and are considered safe.

In addition, on store shelves today there is a huge selection of mineral waters (Eliseevskaya, Gornaya, Arkhyz, etc.), 0.5 liters of which contain about 200 mcg of iodine. However, such water cannot replace regular water and has its contraindications, so its use should be agreed with your doctor.

To prevent iodine deficiency, you should eat foods that are rich in this microelement (see list above). The most affordable way to replenish iodine reserves in the body is to take iodized table salt daily. It should be used for ready meals (5-10 grams per day). To determine how much the body needs this microelement, you need to do a test for iodine deficiency at home.

It is useful to drink iodized mineral water, eat seaweed, cod liver, and seafood. Supermarkets sell products (baked goods, soft drinks, milk) with high iodine content. This is evidenced by the inscription on the packaging. For children, milk formulas are produced that contain this important microelement for health.

Prevention of iodine deficiency is swimming in the ocean or sea, eating sea fish and pharmaceutical iodine-containing drugs. You can use folk remedies to replenish the body with iodine. For example, eat walnuts (one every day) or make tinctures from them.

Recipe for a remedy for iodine deficiency disease:

• green walnuts – 200 grams;
• honey – 200 grams

Grind the nuts. Add honey to them. Infuse the mixture in a dark and warm place for 30 days. Take one tablespoon of tincture daily for a month.

Symptoms of iodine deficiency in women can be eliminated through maximum consumption of ocean fish, seaweed, and iodized salt. It is useful to drink herbal decoctions from white cinquefoil, lemongrass and blueberry leaves, and calamus roots. It is necessary to take vitamin complexes containing iodine. The microelement is well absorbed if there is enough protein, calcium, iron and zinc in the food.

To prevent endocrine diseases, it is necessary to ensure that the microelement enters the body in sufficient quantities. To do this you should:

• eat a varied diet;
• include sea fish and seaweed in the menu;
• Be examined by an endocrinologist once a year;
• take iodine supplements;
• to refuse from bad habits.

Before planning pregnancy, women need to determine their thyroid status. For symptoms of iodine deficiency, 3-6 months before conception, take dietary supplements, for example, Iodomarin. Compliance with preventive measures prevents dangerous diseases - hypothyroidism, myxedema, nodular goiter.

Lack of iodine in a child

Symptoms of iodine deficiency in a child’s body at the metabolic, immune and mental level will not differ from those characteristic of adults. Only the consumption rates of the element will vary depending on the age of the baby:

• from 0 to one year – 50 mcg;
• from one year to 6 years – 90 mcg;
• from 6 years to 12 – 120 mcg.

Teenagers can slightly exceed the indicated norm (up to 200 mcg of the substance per day). This is due to the puberty of children. At the same time, we must not forget that an excess of the element, due to uncontrolled use of medications or dietary supplements, leads to the same disastrous consequences as acute “hidden hunger”.