Iodine plays an important role in the production of thyroid hormones. Stating that iodine deficiency is the most important cause of preventable mental retardation in the world, experts emphasize the importance of adequate iodine intake in growth and development and draw attention to the fact that iodine deficiency causes diseases.
Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Güzin Oğuz Yıldırım gave important information about iodine intake.
"Iodine is an element that must be taken into the body from outside for the production of thyroid hormones," said Specialist. Dr. Güzin Oğuz Yıldırım said, "Adequate iodine intake is essential for normal growth and development. Iodine deficiency leads to inadequate thyroid hormone production and causes iodine deficiency diseases through other mechanisms."
Iodine deficiency increases the risk of miscarriage
Stating that iodine can only be taken orally through iodine-containing or iodine-added foods, Yıldırım said, "Almost all of the dietary iodine is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and duodenum. In case of iodine deficiency, the rate of iodine retention by the thyroid gland is up to 80%, while this rate remains around this rate in adequate iodine intake. The half-life of iodine is normally about 10 hours, this period is prolonged in cases of iodine deficiency."
Pointing out that iodine deficiency is the most important cause of preventable mental retardation in the world, Yıldırım said that different diseases manifest themselves with risks in various age ranges and listed these diseases as follows:
"Mental retardation in infants,
Physical developmental delay,
Low birth weight,
Physical and mental retardation in children,
Thyroid diseases in infants and adults."
Excess iodine reduces hormone production
Stating that excess iodine suppresses the thyroid gland and reduces hormone production, Uzm. Dr. Güzin Oğuz Yıldırım stated that symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism may develop due to decreased hormone levels and continued her words as follows:
Meet your iodine need from foods instead of medicines
"It would be even healthier to meet the body's iodine needs from food instead of medicines. In some cases, medication can be administered to people with iodine deficiency, as food will also be insufficient. Foods containing iodine: "Potatoes, milk, yogurt, eggs, turkey breast meat, fish, iodized salt, Himalayan crystal salt, white bread".
Iodine need increases during pregnancy
The need for iodine consumption increases during pregnancy and breastfeeding. According to studies and data from health organizations, there is no recommendation for a decrease or increase in the need for iodine during menopause.
How much iodine is in foods?
NPISTANBUL Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Güzin Oğuz Yıldırım gave the following information about the amount of iodine in foods:
Food Name Amount Amount of iodine
"Cow's milk 200 ml (1 cup) 50-80 µg
Organic cow's milk 200 ml 30-65 µg
Yogurt 150 g (4 tbsp) 50-100 µg
Egg 1 piece 20 µg
Cheese 40 g (half a cup) 15 µg
White fish 100 g 115 µg
Oily fish 100 g 50 µg
Shellfish 100 g 90 µg
Meat 100 g 10 µg
Chicken 100 g 10 µg
Hazelnut 25 g 5 µg
Bread 1 slice 5 µg
Vegetables and fruits 80 g 3 µg
It is possible to ensure adequate iodine intake with a balanced diet
Güzin Oğuz Yıldırım said, "Within the scope of the fight against iodine deficiency initiated by the Ministry of Health due to the fact that Turkey is a medium and advanced level iodine deficiency and endemic goiter region in terms of iodine deficiency, the problem is at the point of overcoming in big cities and the deficiency still continues in rural areas." Güzin Oğuz Yıldırım stated that it is possible to ensure iodine intake as much as necessary with a balanced diet and concluded her words as follows:
"For patient groups that need salt restriction, increasing salt just for iodine intake is not a remedy. In the future, new regulations will come to the agenda to support salt restriction by increasing the iodine content in salt. I do not recommend the use of salts that are not refined, whose content is not clearly known, where other additives are added naturally or artificially, such as rock salt, gourmet salts. First of all, our aim is to examine whether it is deficiency, excess or normal, and then to review the eating habits and additional risk factors of the person and to make the necessary supplementary recommendations."
