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Iodine and the Thyroid

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Thyroid Disorders

Abstract

Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) are among the most significant public health problems in the world at the present time, especially among children and pregnant women, considered the highest risk population. These disorders hinder socio-economic development in the affected areas. IDD are a permanent natural occurrence that affects the entire planet, which means that the people living in iodine-deficient areas will always be exposed to the consequences of that deficiency, in particular increased perinatal mortality, mental retardation and brain developmental delay. Consequently, it is the major cause of preventable brain damage in childhood, and its elimination is one of the biggest challenges in public health. Iodine is present in small amounts in the body and its main role is to act as the substrate for thyroid hormone synthesis. When dietary requirements are not met, the frequency of IDD increases. In general, these disorders are underdiagnosed and, in many countries, there is no awareness of the associated problems or of the iodine status in the population.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Internal Medicine Department, University of Cauca, Popayán-Cauca, Colombia

    Hernando Vargas-Uricoechea MD, MSc, Ph.Dc

  2. Division of Basic Immunology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Valle, Cali-Valle, Colombia

    Anilza Bonelo-Perdomo BSc, MSc, Ph.D

  3. Division of Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology, University of Cauca, Popayán-Cauca, Colombia

    Carlos Hernán Sierra-Torres Ph.D

Authors
  1. Hernando Vargas-Uricoechea MD, MSc, Ph.Dc
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  2. Anilza Bonelo-Perdomo BSc, MSc, Ph.D
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  3. Carlos Hernán Sierra-Torres Ph.D
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hernando Vargas-Uricoechea MD, MSc, Ph.Dc .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Internal Medicine, Al-Mouwasat Hospital, Jubail, Saudi Arabia

    Syed Khalid Imam

  2. School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom

    Shamim I. Ahmad

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Vargas-Uricoechea, H., Bonelo-Perdomo, A., Sierra-Torres, C.H. (2016). Iodine and the Thyroid. In: Imam, S., Ahmad, S. (eds) Thyroid Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25871-3_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25871-3_3

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