Iodine Deficiency
Recommended Daily Allowance of Iodine
The recommended daily allowance was established by the food and nutrition board, and is used for the general term of reference for a healthy diet. These guidelines include the average daily intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97%-98%) healthy individuals. The adequate intake established when evidence is insufficient to develop and recommended daily allowance, but is still set to allow for a person to get nutritional adequacy.
The recommended daily allowance of iodine, according to the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) at the Institute of Medicine of National Academies is the following: age zero to six months male 110 mcg / per day, age zero to six months female 110 mcg / per day, age seven months to twelve months male 130 mcg / per day, age seven months to twelve months female 130 mcg / per day, age one year to three years male 90 mcg / per day, age one year to three years female 90 mcg / per day, age four years to eight years male 90 mcg / per day, age four years to eight years female 90 mcg / per day, age nine years to thirteen years male 120 mcg / per day, age nine years to thirteen years female 120 mcg / per day, age fourteen years or older male 150 mcg / per day, and age fourteen years or older female 150 mcg / per day.
There are some general recommendations for variations needed in the recommended daily allowance of iodine. The changes in the amount of iodine which the body needs are depended on many factors including: age, weight, gender, general health, long term medical conditions, and whether a female is pregnant or lactating. Each of the causes will change the amount of iodine needed by the human body. In the case of women who are pregnant or producing breast milk (lactating) it is generally recognized that they need higher amounts of iodine, due to iodine being one of the principle components used to produce breast milk. Any change in the amount of iodine should come from a health care professional, and will most likely be determined based on each person’ s characteristics.
Iodine Deficiency
Iodine deficiency is still affecting a large portion of the world’s population. Iodine is one of the essential trace elements which are required for proper human health. A trace element means that the body needs only small amounts of the element; however, that small amount is still important for the overall health of the body. A lack of the element can lead to potential problem and disorders which accompany deficiency.
The addition of iodine in salt has lowered many of the problems associated with iodine deficiency in developed nations. Yet, many iodine problems still remain in many underdeveloped nations of the world. Many of the European nations are also suffering from a lack of iodine. It is estimated that the European nations spent over one billion dollars in medical expenses related to a lack of iodine in a normal diet. The problem of a lack of iodine has lead to many diseases which could have been easily prevented if proper supplementation had occurred.
There has also been a connection between a lack of iodine in a diet and a lack of selenium in diets. There is a connection between how iodine is used in the body in concert with selenium. There have been many countries where there is both a deficiency of iodine and selenium in a standard diet. The efforts of workers to supplement the diets of these countries with iodine have been less successful due to the lack of selenium in the diet. It is now believed that both selenium and iodine may have to be supplemented together to arrive at the desired results.
Symptoms of Iodine Deficiency
Goiters are linked to a lack of iodine in the human system. A low amount of triiodiothyronine ( T 3 ), which is produced in the human body with the help of iodine, in the blood should give rise to high amounts of thyroid stimulating hormone TSH. TSH stimulate the thyroid gland to increase many of the biochemical processes. This cellular growth and proliferation can result in the result in the swelling of the thyroid gland, or goiter.
The addition of iodine to salt began in the early 1900s to eliminate this condition. This has been effective in many of the richer and more industrialized nations; however, iodine deficiencies continue to be a problem in Australia, New Zealand, and several European nations.
One trend which seems to put many nutritionists in a quandary is global initiatives to lower the amount of sodium consumed in diets. This trend means there is less iodine salt being consumed with meals. Much of the sodium which individuals are now getting with their diet comes from the sodium added to processed foods. This sodium does not contain iodine. This means that the average person is no longer getting the same levels of iodine in their diets, and this is making some worry that industrialized nations might start seeing a rise in disorders such as goiters.
Right now goiters are only in less than five percent of the world’s population, and in most all cases when given proper iodine supplementation goiters can be treated. It is important for those suffering from goiters to seek out proper medical treatment, because if left untreated goiters can become permanent regardless of iodine supplementation.
Cretinism is a condition associated with iodine deficiency. Cretinism is commonly characterized by mental deficiency, deaf-mutism, squint, disorders of stance and gait, stunted growth and hypothyroidism. Iodine is very important for women who are about to become pregnant, currently are pregnant, or women who are nursing. Iodine is one of the elements which are crucial for proper development and growth in children.
Iodine deficiency is the leading cause of preventable mental retardation. This normally occurs due to babies and small children being rendered hypothyroidic by a lack of the element. It has been thought that a lack of iodine may cause a typical reduction of 10 to 15 IQ points in children. (Be it noted that this lack of knowledge theory is very controversial. It is considered by many to be a way of discriminating against those people coming from underdeveloped nations of the world). This problem has largely been eliminated thanks to the addition of iodine to salt. Yet, this fix is really only seen in very wealthy nations. Many of the third world nations and even some of the smaller economic nations in Europe suffer from the consequences of iodine deficiency.
Getting Enough Iodine in a Diet
Culture and communities living closer to the oceans normally have higher amounts of iodine consumption. In a recent study researchers discovered that the Japanese consume a much higher average amount of iodine daily compared to the average consumption in the United States. This is due to the high amount of fish meats, and sea agricultural products consumed in Japan.
Iodine being added to salt is the main way that iodine is consumed in the United States. Nutritional experts recommend that individual seek out and find “iodine salt” for consumption. The addition of iodine to salt should be enough for the majority of people to get a proper amount of iodine in their daily diet.
Iodine is important to the health of the human body. It is also a very common element left out of many health supplement products. Especially products designed to be meal replacements. Meal replacement products are great ways to help individuals to have a quick and healthy meal which can help them to lose weight and add important muscle mass. The majority of meal replacement products are protein based. This is due to the benefits which come from adding the proper amount of protein in a diet. Meal replacement products also have a complex blend of carbohydrates. These carbohydrates are design to provide power to the body, and allow a person to gain the most from their workouts. Most carbohydrates in meal replacement products are design so that they will be used for a long burning fuel, and not be converted and store in the body as fat. Most meal replacements also have a blend of vitamins and minerals which try to fill in a person’s nutritional diet with the essential daily nutrients. Iodine is one of the nutrients most often forgotten by typical meal replacement manufactures.
When looking at possible meal replacement products for weight loss and training find a product which will provide the body with the daily requirement of iodine. This is a good indication that the product has a superior formulation. It is also a good idea to make sure the protein in the product is coming from a whey protein source. Whey protein is the best type of supplemental protein, and will help to power the body to build strong lean muscle mass while burning additional calories.
