Iodine roles in human body

Iodine is a component of the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which help regulate cell activities.

It is through the diverse actions of thyroid hormones that iodine becomes important in the regulation of a number of different physiologic systems.

These hormones are also essential for protein synthesis, tissue growth (including the formation of healthy nerves and bones), and reproduction. These hormones are important for correct neuro-development. An adequate intake of iodine is necessary for the correct function of the thyroid and normal levels of thyroid hormones.

A second major organ of iodine uptake is the breast. Iodine is essential for developing child. If iodine is unavailable during development, the child can developed hyperthyroidism. Small amounts of iodine found in bile, hair and skin, stomach and mammary glands act as storage sites that may endogenously supply the body with iodine when the need exists.

Failure to have proper amounts of this element during development or in adulthood can lead to a host of medical problems, including mental retardation, cardiac complications, metabolic disturbances and mental health illness.
Iodine roles in human body

Iodine deficiency disorder

The importance of iodine as an essential element arises from the fact that it is a constituent of the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine.

These hormones are essential for normal growth and physical and mental development in animals and man.

Iodine deficiency occurs worldwide and is a public health problem in 130 countries.

Deficiency arise when dietary iodine intake does not meet requirements. The diet is likely to be deficient whenever the soil content of iodine is low, which is often the case in mountainous regions.

The most severe deficient soils are those of the European Alps, the Himalayas, the Andes and the vast mountains of China.

Iodine deficiency leads to inadequate production of thyroid hormone that indispensible for brain growth and development.

The iodine deficiency disorders consist of wide spectrum, including mental retardation, impaired physical development, increased prenatal and infant mortality, hypothyroidism, cretinism and goiter.

The most visible manifestation of iodine deficiency is goiter. Goiter is defined as an enlargement of the thyroid gland and cretinism is a term used for a severe form of iodine deficiency characterized by severe mental retardation.

The most severe damage due to iodine deficiency occurs from the fetal period to the third month after birth, during which iodine deficiency can produce cretinism, an irreversible form of mental retardation.
Iodine deficiency disorder

Iron and Iodine in Human Body

A number of minerals or elements are required for normal body functions. Human need minerals to satay healthy. People get minerals by drinking water and eating food.

Minerals play significant roles in virtually every metabolic process occurring within the body.

Iron is required, since it is an essential part of both the blood pigment, hemoglobin, and muscle pigment, myoglobin.

Some body enzymes also have composites that include iron. Deficiencies of iron cause anemia. It is the most common nutrient deficiency, affecting more than 1.2 billion people.

Liver, animal muscle tissues, eggs, oats meal, wheat flour, cocoa, and chocolate are good source of iron. Approximately 10.0 mg of iron are required daily.

For many people that meal is breakfast, which may also include citrus juice whose vitamin C may increase the absorption of nonheme iron.

Iodine is required by all vertebra animals, including the human, since it is a component of the hormone, thyroxine, produced by the thyroid gland.

Thyroid hormone is constructed from iodide and the amino acid tyrosine and has two form thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) based on the number of iodide atoms.

This hormone regulates metabolic levels. Deficiency of iodine leads to low level metabolism, lethargy, and goiter. Iodine deficiency has existed for centuries.

Requirements of iodine are believed to be about 0.1 mg daily. In food iodine is mostly in its ion form – iodide. Sea food and salt water fish are the beat sources of iodine. In areas where the water is known to be deficient in iodine, iodized table salt may be used in place of regular table salt.
Iron and Iodine in Human Body

Iodine in human nutrition

The only physiological role known for iodine in the human body is in the synthesis of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland.

The hormone is thyroxin. Thyroxin controls everything from how often the heart beats to the body’s metabolism.

Iodine from the diet is absorb throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Dietary iodine is converted into the iodide ion before it is absorbed.

The iodide is used by the thyroid gland for synthesis of thyroid hormones and the kidneys excretes excess iodine with urine.

People need to eat iodine containing food regularly, however, because only the amount needed by the thyroid gland to make sufficient amounts of thyroxin is absorbed by the body at any one time, excess iodine is not stored.

In the absence of sufficient iodine the gland attempts to compensate for the deficiency by increasing its secretary activity, and this cause the gland to enlarge. This condition is known as goiter.

Iodide found in seafood; however, large differences in iodide content exist between seawater fish and freshwater fish. Other protein rich foods also supply iodide including milk, yoghurt, egg and meat.

An additional source of iodide is breads and grain products made from bread dough.
Iodine in human nutrition