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Iodine deficiency is a lack of the trace element iodine, an essential nutrient in the diet.It may result in metabolic problems such as goiter, sometimes as an endemic goiter as well as congenital iodine deficiency syndrome due to untreated congenital hypothyroidism, which results in developmental delays and other health problems.
Congenital iodine deficiency syndrome (CIDS), also called cretinism, [2] is a medical condition present at birth marked by impaired physical and mental development, due to insufficient thyroid hormone production (hypothyroidism) often caused by insufficient dietary iodine during pregnancy.
Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism and endemic goiter worldwide. [8] [9] In areas of the world with sufficient dietary iodine, hypothyroidism is most commonly caused by the autoimmune disease Hashimoto's thyroiditis (chronic autoimmune thyroiditis). [8] [9] Hashimoto's may be associated with a goiter.
Hypothyroidism is common in pregnancy with an estimated prevalence of 2-3% and 0.3-0.5% for subclinical and overt hypothyroidism respectively. [8] Endemic iodine deficiency accounts for most hypothyroidism in pregnant women worldwide while chronic autoimmune thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in iodine sufficient parts of the world.
Iodine levels are frequently too low in pregnant women, and iodine is necessary for normal thyroid function and mental development of the fetus, even cretinism. Pregnant women should take prenatal vitamins containing iodine. [10] Vitamin D levels vary with exposure to sunlight. While it was assumed that supplementation was necessary only in ...
Some of the most common pregnancy-related complications or conditions include gestational diabetes, infections, or severe nausea or vomiting. Another common condition that is frequently monitored ...
Similarly, folate deficiency has been linked to neural tube defects. [73] Iodine deficiency is "the most common preventable cause of mental impairment worldwide." [74] [75] "Even moderate [iodine] deficiency, especially in pregnant women and infants, lowers intelligence by 10 to 15 I.Q. points, shaving incalculable potential off a nation's ...
The word "cretinism" is an old term for the state of mental and physical retardation resulting from untreated congenital hypothyroidism, usually due to iodine deficiency from birth because of low iodine levels in the soil and local food sources. The term, like so many other 19th century medical terms, acquired pejorative connotations as it ...