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Smritiratan Tripathy ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Physiology, Berhampore Girls’ College, P.O. Berhampore, Dist., Murshidabad, West Bengal – 742 101, IN

Abstract

Iodine is an essential micronutrient required for structural development and optimal functional activity of the thyroid gland and central nervous system. Iodine deficiency has been shown to be associated with endemic cretinism, endemic goitre and subcretinous mental subnormalities. Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) refers to a complex clinical and subclinical disorders caused due to the lack of adequate dietary intake. Globally, 2.2 bilion people live in areas with iodine deficiency and risk its complications, while in India, 167 million people are at risk of IDD, 54.4 million people have goitre and 8.8 million people have IDD related mental/motor handicaps.

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Smritiratan Tripathy ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Physiology, Berhampore Girls' College, P.O. Berhampore Dist, Murshidabad, West Bengal - 742 101, IN

Abstract

Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) is a significant public health problem in the world including India. Although the number of countries with iodine deficiency decreased, still in several studies conducted around the world the pregnant women have been found to be particularly vulnerable to IDD. Totally 315 pregnant women (aged between 18-45 yrs) were clinically examined for goiter from three sub divisions of Murshidabad district. The overall goiter prevalence was found to be 18.7%. Most of the goiter was palpable (grade 1) however, visible goiter also existed. To evaluate the occurrence of associated iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) every pregnant woman was examined or enquired individually. In the studied population, most prevalent abnormalities were feeble mindedness (38.4%) followed by deaf mutism (10.4%), squint (1.9%), miscarriage (8.3%) and still birth (2.5%). Urinary iodine and thiocyanate concentrations were measured for all subjects and the mean and median Urinary Iodine (UI) were found to be 12.6 ± 9.3 μg/dl and 11.1 μg/dl respectively. The mean and median thiocyanate excretion levels were 0.614 ± 0.23 mg/dl and 0.545 mg/dl respectively. The overall clinical observations suggest that the pregnant women of the studied region are affected by goiter or they are iodine deficient but biochemically they have no iodine deficiency as evidenced by their urinary iodine excretion pattern. They consume foods containing thiocyanate precursors as evidenced by urinary thiocyanate excretion pattern. Thus in spite of the consumption of adequate iodine, existing goiter prevalence may be due to the consumption of dietary goitrogens/antithyroid substances that possibly come through food and water.

Keywords

Iodine, Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD), Pregnant Women, Urinary Iodine, Urinary Thiocyanate.

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Amar K. Chandra ¹, Arijit Oebnath ¹, Smritiratan Tripathy ²

Affiliations
1 Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University College of Science and Technology; University of Calcutta, Kolkata - 700 009, IN
2 Department of General Human Physiology, Haldia Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Haldia - 721 645, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Considerable progress has been made in the impiementation of the universal salt iodization programme in the countries affected by Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD). The advantage of supplementing with iodized salt is that it is used by all sections of a community irrespective of social and economic status. There are two forms of iodine, which can be used to iodise salt: "iodide" and "iodate" usually as the potassium salt. Iodate is less soluble and more stable than iodide and is therefore preferred for tropical moist conditions. Both are generally referred to as "iodized" salt. Keeping in view of the mean daily intake of common salt of 10 g by the population in different parts of the country, it is mandatory under National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme (NIDDCP) that a minimum of 15 ppm of iodine should be present per gram of edible salt at the beneficiary level to ensure at least 150 mg of dietary intake of iodine per day through the salt.

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Amar ¹, K. Chandra ¹, Smritiratan Tripathy ¹, Dishari Lahari ¹, Sanjukta Mukhopadhyay ¹

Affiliations
1 Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University College of Science and Technology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata - 700 009, IN

Abstract

Iodine in trace amount is essential for normal development and function of the brain and maintenance of body heat and energy. Man gets iodine through food and water. Iodine deficiency in a region is characterised by iodine poor soil, less iodine in foods (animal or vegetable origin) and in drinking water, resulting in iodine deprivation of living organism. The major consequences of iodine deficiency are goitre (enlargement of thyroid gland than normal), still birth and miscarriages, mental defect, deaf-mutism, weakness and paralysis of muscles as well as lesser degree of physical and mental function.

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Amar K. Chandra ¹, Smritiratan Tripathy ¹, Sanjukta Mukhopadhyay ¹, Dishari Lahari ¹

Affiliations
1 Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University College of Science and Technology, University of Calcutta, 92, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata-700 006, IN

Abstract

Iodine is an important micronutrient for humans. Very small quantity of iodine is required by the thyroid gland daily for the production of thyroid hormones which are needed for the growth, development and normal physiological functions of the human body. Lack of iodine in the diet leads to visible and invisible spectrum of health consequences known as iodine deficiency disorders (IDD).

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