Iodine Deficiency Can Lead to Thyroid Disorders and Stunted Growth in Children

National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Day highlights the importance of iodine-rich foods such as iodized salt, seafood like fish and shrimp, milk and dairy products, and eggs—especially the yolk.

Health officials in Chamba emphasized that iodine deficiency disorders can be easily prevented if people regularly consume iodized salt and pay attention to early warning signs of deficiency. They were speaking at a district-level event held on Wednesday to mark National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Day.

C.R. Thakur, representing the Chief Medical Officer, said that inadequate iodine intake can lead to thyroid disorders, stunted growth, and mental retardation in children. He added that the deficiency is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, as it can adversely affect the health and development of the unborn child.

“The purpose of observing this day,” he said, “is to raise awareness about maintaining adequate iodine levels in the body.” The event also discussed common health problems caused by iodine deficiency, including goitre (neck swelling), fatigue and weakness due to thyroid dysfunction, weight gain, hair loss, dry skin, and poor cognitive development in children.

Health officials noted that World Iodine Deficiency Day is observed every year on October 21 to remind people of the crucial role nutrition plays in daily life, especially the importance of micronutrients like iodine. The deficiency, they said, remains a major public health concern, particularly among women and children.

Participants were informed that “iodine is an essential nutrient that the body cannot produce on its own, so it must be obtained through diet. It plays a key role in producing thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism, growth, and brain function.”

Major dietary sources of iodine include iodized salt, seafood such as fish and shrimp, milk and dairy products like curd, buttermilk, and cheese, and eggs, particularly the yolk. This mineral is especially vital for pregnant women, children, adolescents, and those living in mountainous or iodine-deficient regions, where the soil and water contain low iodine levels.

Officials also cautioned that iodized salt should not be stored near stoves or in direct sunlight, as heat and moisture can reduce its iodine content.