What is Iodine? What role does Iodine play in the body?
Iodine is an essential micronutrient required everyday in very minute quantities (100 — 150 micrograms). Iodine is essential for normal human growth and mental development. Most iodine (around 60%) is stored in the thyroid gland - a butterfly shaped gland at the base of the throat. Thyroid hormones secreted by the thyroid gland control the basic metabolic rate of the body.
If the gland produces too much thyroid hormone, it speeds up metabolism (hyperthyroidism) but if the thyroid hormone is deficient it slows down metabolism (hypothyroidism). Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can bring about ‘Goiter' — or an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland.
Thyroid hormones are vital during pregnancy for proper mental & physical development of the fetus. Deficient thyroxin can cause lowered IQ and brain damage due to diminished nerve cell branching.
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