Iodine Deficiency

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Iodine deficiency is becoming more increasingly common, with more the population being at risk of iodine deficiency. The following are the groups who may be at a high risk of having an iodine deficiency:

People who have goitre
People with the health condition goitre, where the thyroid becomes enlarged and causes symptoms of hypothyroidism may not have a healthy and properly functioning thyroid. Getting some extra iodine may help the thyroid function better and reduce some of they symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Women who are pregnant especially, should get enough iodine in their diet because it helps to ensure that their unborn child has healthy and normal brain development. A deficit of iodine in the mother's diet may cause cretinism - growth retardation, delay in brain development and other abnormalities. Women who are breastfeeding should also ensure that they have enough iodine in their diet to help their baby's growth and brain development continues in a healthy manner.
People that eat a lot of goitrogenic foods
Certain foods are known as goitrogenic foods - apples, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, turnips, cassava, mustard greens, bok choy, cress, kale, kohlrabi, soy. These goitrogenic foods interfere with the proper functioning of the thyroid, by blocking iodine absorption and cause symptoms associated with iodine deficiency. Cooking these foods deactivates the iodine-blocking substance inside them. The only food that this rule does not apply is soy - nothing seems to deactivate the iodine-blocking agent within soy, so people who are iodine deficient should avoid soy.

Iodine deficiency occurs when there is less than 50mcg of iodine intake in the diet.

Women who are pregnant should get enough iodine in their diet because it helps to ensure that their unborn child has healthy and normal brain development