Specialists of the Moscow Endocrinology Research Center are checking students for iodine deficiency as part of an international project focusing on this problem. Photo: Vladimir Smirnov / TASS
35% of Russians suffer from iodine deficiency and the associated diseases
Of the 7 billion inhabitants of our planet, nearly 2 billion suffer from iodine deficiency. These are mainly residents of the third world countries located far from the sea. According to the World Health Organization, 740 million people suffer from endemic goiter. In Russia, about 35% of the population experiences iodine deficiency. A study of the Endocrinology Research Center of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences showed that in most of the Russian regions, iodine consumption is
UNICEF cites even more frightening figures. A report entitled “Iodine deficiency: a threat to the health and development of Russian children” states that more than 1.5 million Russian children may become disabled due to mental impairment caused by iodine deficiency.
Krasnoyarsk is seeing again, as in the 70s of the last century, an uptake in diseases associated with iodine deficiency. The risk group includes children, adolescents and pregnant women. According to the regional office of the Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing Agency, the last year alone saw the incidence rate among children grow by 15.4%, and by 11.5% among teenagers. Every year, the number of schoolchildren suffering from iodine deficiency increases by 10%.
The Russian Planet found out what are the dangers of iodine deficiency and how to deal with it.
From goiter to cretinism
“This is not that common to say that in the 70s, in Tuva, there was a sharp increase in child cretinism,” says endocrinologist Tatiana Voloshina to The Russian Planet. “Studies have shown that it was directly related to the uprise of iodine deficiency in the region. Then the alarm was sounded at the state level: iodine was given not only to children and adults, but also added to animal feed. This yielded good results, and in a few years the situation was returned to normal.”
Various mental disorders are one of the inevitable consequences of iodine deficiency. It is no coincidence that the first signs of a lack of this trace element are fatigue, forgetfulness, irritability, lethargy, drowsiness and decreased libido. However, all these unpleasant symptoms are just the beginning of a much sadder story.
“Iodine is a system-forming element in the synthesis of thyroid hormones,” explains Tatiana Voloshina. “And these hormones are involved in almost all metabolic processes that take place in our body. In the absence of enough iodine the body begins to function incorrectly. The most common disease that is directly caused by iodine deficiency is the so-called endemic goiter. The thyroid gland does not have enough ‘building material’ to produce hormones, and the body signals that there are not enough of them in the blood. Then the thyroid gland begins to build up tissue, trying to become larger in order to produce enough hormones. But iodine is still not enough, and the gland continues to grow. This is a typical example of a positive feedback process. Processes of a similar kind include: a nuclear explosion, an avalanche in the mountains or the development of a cancer tumor. By the way, people suffering from iodine deficiency are at risk for cancer.”
“The problem is that iodine deficiency does not allow treating many other diseases,” said Tatiana Voloshina. “For example, the effectiveness of the atherosclerosis treatment is many times lower. It is much more difficult to cope with the problem of high blood pressure. Iodine deficiency generally affects the cardiovascular system to a large extent. A doctor prescribes traditional drugs, and the result is almost zero.”
Too much of the fluorine
“In the Soviet Union, the problem of iodine deficiency has been a focus of the numerous studies since the 50s,” Doctor of Biology Igor Nefedov told the Russian Planet. “The list of territories where iodine deficiency manifested itself most strongly traditionally included the republics of the North Caucasus, Siberia, in particular the Tyumen region, the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Tuva, Yakutia and the Far North: Yamal, Taimyr and Evenkia. The situation was perhaps even more dramatic for the inhabitants of Central Siberia than for the northerners. The fact is that iodine works best together with another trace element — selenium. And Siberians practically do not receive selenium — there is very little of it in local products and water. Residents of the Far North make up for the lack of selenium by eating fresh fish. While in Tuva or Krasnoyarsk, for instance, fish is not in everyone’s diet. Krasnoyarsk is a separate topic for discussion in terms of iodine deficiency. Our water contains too much of the fluorine, which removes iodine from the body. Animal experiments showed that the animals that were given fluoridated water suffered from iodine deficiency on average 70% more often. That is why doctors do not recommend the residents of Krasnoyarsk to use fluoride toothpaste — we already have an excess of it in our bodies.”
In Soviet times, all kindergartens and schools used to have iodine deficiency prevention strategies. Children received daily iodine doses. Today, no systematic measures are being taken to solve the problem of iodine deficiency — at least in Siberia. This is expensive: in requires billions of rubles in order for children from one to 15 years of age to receive physiological doses of iodine daily. As Tatyana Taranushenko, the main children’s endocrinologist of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, noted in her speech at the board of the regional Ministry of Health, “it is unlikely that the problem will be solved at the state’s expense, even if its importance is fully recognized.”
How to make up for iodine deficiency?
The population of iodine-deficient regions has to solve the problem at their own expense. According to doctors, the most reliable way to fill iodine deficiency is to take complex vitamins. Contrary to the common myth, the iodine contained in specialized additives and vitamin complexes absorbs well.
Those who believe that our body absorbs only “organic” iodine should opt for fresh sea fish and seafood. The daily requirement for iodine for adults is
“Iodine deficiency can also be partially replenished with food such as buckwheat, lemons, millet porridge, and walnuts,” says nutritionist Anastasia Nenasheva. “Iodized milk is also helpful. But you should not expect any significant effect from the use of iodized salt. Firstly, three months after manufacture, it loses its useful properties. Secondly, if you cook hot food using iodized salt — soups, cereals, etc., then keep in mind that when boiled, up to 60% of the remaining iodine simply disappears. The same thing happens if you store salt in an open salt shaker. By the way, that is why the mandatory salt iodization was canceled in the early 80s in the USSR. One more tip. One of the latest cooking trends is steamed sea fish. But with this method of cooking, fish loses a significant part of its useful properties. If you want to replenish iodine with seafood, eat mussels or seaweed — they contain so much iodine that even after heat treatment there remains enough.”
When to go to the doctor
Most of the inhabitants of Siberia suffer from iodine deficiency. Therefore, do not put off going to the pharmacy for multivitamins. However, there are some symptoms that suggest that you should rush to the pharmacy.
“There are several signs of iodine deficiency in the body the appearance of which means that you urgently need to see a doctor,” explains Tatiana Voloshina. “If you catch a cold too often, suffer from headaches, shortness of breath, lack of appetite, get tired quickly, then it is high probable that you have not enough iodine in your body. If the symptoms also include pains in the heart area and the deterioration of your hair and teeth, this is serious and alarming. Keep in mind that in neglected cases, vitamins or iodine additives alone will not help — it will require complex therapy. If a human body has already got accustomed to imbalanced functioning, then the incoming high doses of iodine will only accumulate in the thyroid gland, and this can cause very serious consequences. The fact is that iodine accelerates metabolic processes, and its excess can wake up those diseases that were in remission. Excess iodine also provokes the growth of tumor tissue. So do not self-medicate.”
Polina Vinogradova, Krasnoyarsk / October 6, 2015
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