Iodine deficiency disease is a general term for a series of diseases that occur due to insufficient iodine intake in the human body due to the lack of iodine in the external environment. May 15, 2024 is the 31st "National Day for the Prevention and Treatment of Iodine Deficiency Diseases" in mainland China, and the theme of this year's event is "Salt Iodization to Prevent Diseases, Balanced Nutrition and Health".
On the morning of May 13, Xuzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital and Xuzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention held the 2024 "Prevention and Treatment of Iodine Deficiency Disease" publicity activity in the outpatient hall of the hospital.
Publicity campaigns
Iodine is an important trace element that affects mental development, and iodine deficiency in the human body will cause varying degrees of damage, which may lead to iodine deficiency diseases and even disabilities, especially for women of childbearing age, infants and young children.
At the event site, the electronic screen played the popular science video of iodine deficiency disease, placed publicity display boards, and the staff distributed relevant publicity materials, and publicized the relevant knowledge of iodine deficiency disease and scientific iodine supplementation to pregnant women, postpartum mothers and their families who came to the hospital, and introduced the harm caused by iodine deficiency to fetuses and children. At the same time, it also introduces in detail how to identify real and fake salt, store salt correctly, and consume iodized salt, so as to further improve the public's awareness of iodine deficiency disease prevention and control knowledge and disease prevention awareness.
Live explanation
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Dangers of iodine deficiency during pregnancy
Iodine deficiency severely impairs fetal brain and nervous system development. Iodine deficiency in pregnant women can lead to delayed brain development, mental retardation, and slow response, and in severe cases, cretinism, which is manifested as stupidity, smallness, deafness, muteness, paralysis and other symptoms. In addition, insufficient thyroid hormone synthesis caused by iodine deficiency during pregnancy can also lead to an increase in the incidence of preterm birth, miscarriage and stillbirth in pregnant women, and can also cause a corresponding increase in the incidence of serious pregnancy complications such as hypertension and placental abruption in pregnant women.
Iodine intake in populations with special needs
The period from the mother's pregnancy to the birth of the offspring up to the age of three years is a critical period for the development of the offspring's brain, and if iodine dystrophy occurs at this time, it increases the risk of brain retardation. The growth and development of various organs in children and adolescents is fast, the basal metabolism is enhanced, and the iodine consumption is more. Therefore, pregnant women, lactating women, infants and young children (from birth to within 36 months of age) and other groups are the special needs of iodine, and children and adolescents are the key groups for the prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency diseases.
Iodine supplementation modalities
The recommended intake of iodine during pregnancy for pregnant women increased from 120 μg/day to 230 μg/day when they were not pregnant. Use iodized salt and encourage appropriate intake of iodine-rich seafood such as kelp and seaweed.
The recommended iodine intake for lactating women doubled to 240 μg/day compared to the general population, and iodine intake in lactating women was positively correlated with the iodine content of breast milk. To ensure the normal development of infants and young children, iodized salt should be used and an appropriate intake of iodine-rich seafood such as kelp and seaweed should be encouraged.
Breastfed infants and young children can meet the needs of infants aged 0~6 months when their mothers have adequate iodine intake. Infants aged 7~12 months can get some iodine from complementary food; Children aged 13~36 months who begin to try adult food will also consume a small amount of iodized salt to obtain a certain amount of iodine. Children and adolescents have a high iodine requirement and should consume iodized salt during their childhood.
Editor/Yao Meng
Reviewer/Li Qian
Editor/Liu Yanmin