Iodine is an essential mineral that the body needs to make thyroid hormones. For maintain levels of this important hormone, make sure your daily intake of iodine is met. If not, there is various effects of iodine deficiency who will stalk you.
Iodine is needed to produce thyroid hormone, but the body cannot produce iodine on its own. Therefore, it takes the intake of iodine from food.
Thyroid hormone is a very important hormone, because this hormone plays a role in controlling metabolism and various other body functions. Lack of iodine to form this hormone will have a wide impact on health.
Benefit Yiodine for Body
Adequate intake of iodine can affect the production of thyroid hormone in the body. In addition to controlling the body's metabolism, thyroid hormone also plays a role in stabilizing heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature; and regulate the amount and type of food that is converted into an energy source.
Thyroid hormone is also important in supporting growth and development. This hormone promotes the growth of the baby's bones and brain. Given that there are various important roles of thyroid hormone in the body, make sure your daily iodine needs are met so that the amount of thyroid hormone produced is sufficient.
The following are recommendations for daily iodine intake by age and gender:
- Infants younger than 1 year: 90-120 micrograms/day.
- Children aged 1-11 years: 120 micrograms/day.
- Adults and adolescents: 150 micrograms/day.
- Pregnant women: 220 micrograms/day.
- Breastfeeding mothers: 250 micrograms/day.
Food Source of Iodine
To meet the daily needs of iodine, you can eat foods that contain iodine. Some types of foods rich in iodine are:
- Iodized salt.
- Seafood, such as seaweed, jelly, shrimp, sea fish, and shellfish.
- Milk and its processed products, such as cheese and yogurt.
- Egg.
- Nuts and seeds, such as wheat and soybeans.
Impact of Iodine Deficiency
If the intake of iodine is not met, the body will experience iodine deficiency. This condition can cause:
1. Mumps
Lack of iodine intake can make the thyroid hormones work harder than usual, so that the thyroid gland can experience enlargement. This condition is known as goiter. Other symptoms that can appear are difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, coughing, and difficulty breathing.
2. Hypothyroidism disease
Lack of iodine intake can lead to hypothyroidism. This is a condition in which the thyroid gland becomes underactive, making it unable to produce sufficient amounts of thyroid hormone.
Some of the symptoms of hypothyroidism are weight gain for no apparent reason, can't stand cold temperatures, difficulty concentrating, dry skin, difficulty defecating, weakness, muscle pain, and swelling in several parts of the body.
In women, hypothyroidism can cause additional symptoms, namely irregular menstrual cycles and difficulty getting pregnant.
3. Brain disorders in the fetus
Iodine deficiency in pregnant women can cause brain growth disorders in the fetus they contain. This can hamper the baby's growth and development, and interfere with cognitive (thinking) and motoric development.
4. Babies born with low weight
In addition to causing brain damage, lack of iodine intake in pregnant women can cause babies to be born with low weight or born prematurely.
5. Kthyroid cancer
Iodine deficiency is associated with autoimmune diseases that attack the thyroid gland. This condition is a risk factor for thyroid cancer.
This is reinforced by the results of a study showing that thyroid cancer is more common in people who are deficient in iodine intake in the long term.
Not only is iodine deficiency dangerous, excess iodine can also cause health problems, namely hyperthyroidism. Therefore, make sure your daily intake of iodine is sufficient, not too little but not too much.
If you have certain diseases or are taking medications that can affect iodine absorption and thyroid hormone levels, talk to your doctor to determine how much iodine you need to take.