| Iodine and Children
Thyroid gland contains about 80% iodine in organism (about 15mg in adults). The most sensitive group of people to iodine deficiency is the children, pregnant women and breastfeeding. The daily need after iodine among this group of people is higher. Iodine deficiency in nutrition results in decreased synthesis of thyroid hormones and illness called hypothyroidism.
The iodine deficiency has severe consequences especially when there is lack of iodine in the nutrition of the pregnant women, small children and breastfeeding. These consequences cause sterility, miscarriage, stillborns, and reproductions of the physically and mentally retarded children. These children are small growth with many neurological damages and muscular and skeletal anomalies, deafness, mentally retarded, with short life age and they are permanently dependent on special care and help.
At the population level, the consequence of iodine deficiency is a 10-15% lower average IQ.
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