Iodine Deficiency in Britain

Scottish women are at an increased risk of iodine deficiency which can risk the mental development of their future generations. Researchers have found that more than 2/3^rd school girls are deficient in iodine while 50-60% young women are iodine deficient. For this purpose 700 school girls were studied and it was found that the average amount of iodine was 80 mcg per liter while iodine below 100 mcg is described as deficient by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Iodine is crucial for the brain development of the fetus in the womb and it is the world's leading cause of treatable mental impairment. Even a small amount of deficiency can have severe effects on a child's mental development. 1-cup of milk provides more than half of the daily iodine requirement and schoolgirls with the lowest iodine levels were the ones with the lowest milk intake.

Iodine Deficiency Disorder - Causes - NIDDCP Launch - Objectives - NIDDCP Executed - FAQs
To control IDD, the ‘National Goiter Control Program (NGCP)’ was launched which was later renamed as the ‘National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Program (NIDDCP)’.

Scientists have suggested compulsion of fortification of common salt with iodine. They have also recommended that pregnant women should take an iodine supplement.

Source-Medindia

Iodine Deficiency: A Global Initiative to Weed Out the Problem
The earliest reports of iodine deficiency emerged from China, almost 5000 years ago. Nature came to the rescue in the form of sea weeds and many of those who ate sea weeds actually weeded out

Thyroid Disease and Mental Disorders
Brain–thyroid relationships are less apparent in the adult brain, though important. These are more significant in a developing brain.

Iodine Deficiency affects IQ of Children
Insufficent iodine in the diet of some Irish women has put them at risk of having children with a lower IQ or even attention problems.