Iodine is an essential chemical element for the human body. And this element may be very necessary and, at the same time, should not be in excess in the body. What should we consider in this regard? What should we know about deficiency and excess iodine?
Iodine deficiency or iodine deficiency is a very serious public health problem, which especially affects children, during pregnancy and lactation, but also affects the general population.
The best strategy to avoid iodine deficiency is the usual consumption of iodized salt, as recommended by the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the International Council for the Control of Disorders for Iodine Deficit (ICCIDD).
In addition, together with foods rich in iodine, it is recommended to contribute as a pharmacological preparation an extra supplement of at least 200 mcg of iodine per day to pregnant women, to infants, and those who are planning a pregnancy. And it is that iodine is very important in pregnancy and also essential in breastfeeding.
Consequences of lack of iodine
The iodine deficit produces several complications and that is why its prevention is so important:
Goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland, which can cause respiratory and / or swallowing problems, especially in babies who do not receive enough iodine.
Myxedema: alteration of the tissues that is characterized by an edema in the skin, and sometimes in the internal organs, as a result of a malfunction of the thyroid gland.
Delay in the development of the central nervous system, as well as in the growth and maturation of the baby's bones.
Dangers of excess iodine in the perinatal period
If the iodine deficit is important, Excess iodine in the perinatal period can be dangerous. Although using iodinated antiseptics in this period is contraindicated, the iodinated overload from using them for the skin antisepsis of the mother and / or the newborn is still a frequent yatrogeny (poorly caused by a cure).
Iodine overload alters the results of neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism, since the correct functioning of the newborn's thyroid is temporarily blocked and invalidates the prevalence of neonatal hyperthyropyropinemia as an indicator of iodine deficiency.
In addition, this excess can also negatively affect the brain and the inner ear of the baby in that phase so sensitive to thyroid hormones.
Remember that povidone iodine is a prohibited antiseptic and that there are safe alternatives for these delicate moments.
Finally, we summarize the points treated with the synthesis of recommendations published by the "Guide for the prevention of congenital diseases", from the Ministry of Health:
Iodine is essential for the thyroid to synthesize thyroxine. Thyroxine is necessary for the growth and development of the brain.
A iodine deficiency during pregnancy and early childhood can cause hypothyroxinemia that negatively and irreversibly affects the developing brain.
The natural diet is poor in iodine so it is necessary to consume foods enriched with iodine (iodized salt).
Pregnant and nursing women need an extra supplement of at least 200 microg of iodine per day in the form of potassium iodide.
This iodine supplement should be started before the onset of pregnancy, or as early as possible, and maintained until the end of breastfeeding.
Iodized antiseptics cannot be used for skin antisepsis of the mother and / or newborn because they cause yatrogeny.
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In Babies and more | What alternatives exist to povidone iodine, The importance of iodine during pregnancy and childhood
