May 15 is the 24th "Iodine Deficiency Disease Prevention and Control Day" in my country. This year's theme is "A little iodine every day, a little more health". Nine departments including the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the State Food and Drug Administration decided to jointly launch the 24th "Iodine Deficiency Disease Prevention and Control Day" activity.

What is an 'iodine deficiency disorder'?

Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) is a series of damages caused by the lack of iodine in water and soil in the natural environment, resulting in low iodine content in plants and food, and insufficient iodine intake in the body. It is the most widely distributed disease in the world. The most common endemic disease.

What else you need to know about iodine deficiency disorders

Iodine is an essential micronutrient for metabolism and growth and development, and is the main raw material for the synthesis of thyroid hormones by the human body. Thyroid hormones participate in the body's metabolism, maintain the normal function of all organs, and promote the growth and development of the human body, especially the brain.

A child's brain development begins when the mother is pregnant. The fetus and infancy (ages 1-3) are critical periods for a child's brain development. If the child is deficient in iodine in the fetal period and infancy, it will affect the normal development of the brain, and cause serious cretinism, deafness, intellectual impairment, etc.

All the iodine needed by the fetus comes from the mother. Insufficient iodine nutrition in pregnant women will cause iodine deficiency in the fetus. Severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, and birth defects. Therefore, the iodine requirement of pregnant and lactating women is significantly higher than that of the general population, and an appropriate amount of iodine needs to be supplemented in time. Iodine deficiency in adults may lead to hypothyroidism, fatigue, lack of concentration, and reduced work efficiency.

Iodine deficiency disease is a general term for a series of diseases that occur due to insufficient iodine intake in the human body due to iodine deficiency in the external environment. Before the elimination of iodine deficiency disorders in my country in 2000, 5% to 15% of children in iodine deficiency wards had mild intellectual disabilities (IQ 50 to 69 points), and 6.6‰ of them suffered from endemic cretinism (stupidity). Seriously affect the quality of the local population.

Iodine deficiency is preventable, and the easiest, safe and effective way to prevent it is to consume iodized salt.

The external environment (water, soil, etc.) in most parts of our country is almost deficient in iodine, especially in mountainous areas, hills, river valleys, desertification areas and river scouring areas. The status quo of iodine deficiency in the external environment is difficult to change. If iodine supplementation is stopped, the iodine stored in the human body can be maintained for up to 3 months, so it is necessary to insist on eating iodized salt for a long time.

Does eating iodized salt cause thyroid cancer?

In fact, there is currently no direct evidence that consumption of iodized salt or increased iodine intake is associated with the development of thyroid cancer. In recent years, regardless of whether or not iodine supplementation measures are taken in major countries in the world, regardless of whether the iodine intake is increased, stable or decreased, the incidence of thyroid cancer has increased, and the increase in microscopic cancers with a diameter of less than 1.0 cm is the main factor.

Some studies suggest that the current "epidemic" of thyroid cancer is partly attributable to thyroid screening, and is related to the overdiagnosis of occult or microscopic cancers resulting from the widespread use of high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography.