Global Iodine Deficiency Disorder Prevention Day 2023: On October 21, each year, Global Iodine Deficiency Prevention Day is observed. The day brings attention to the critical role that iodine plays in maintaining human health. Iodine, a micronutrient, is essential for optimal development and growth, in addition to proper thyroid function.
Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention Day: A Historical Context
Historical records indicate that early Chinese medical texts, which originated around 3600 B.C., were the first to record the phenomenon of goiter enlargement diminishing subsequent to the ingestion of burnt marine sponges and seaweed. Despite the absence of iodine, these remedies maintained their efficacy and continued to be utilized globally, as evidenced by the writings of Hippocrates, Galen, and Roger in subsequent centuries.
Inadvertently, iodine was discovered in the initial fifty years of the nineteenth century. During the extraction of sodium salts for gunpowder production in 1811, French chemist Bernard Courtois observed an unusual purple vapor emerging from sulfuric acid-treated seaweed ash. Gaspard Adolphe Chatin, a French chemist, was the pioneer in publishing the concept of endemic goiter attributed to population iodine deficiency, which had been proposed since 1852. Eugen Baumann, who published a paper in 1896 detailing the discovery of iodine within the thyroid gland, verified this.
World leaders established a target of eradicating iodine deficiency by the year 2000 at the World Summit for Children in 1990. Countries such as China and India observed their own National Days for the Prevention of Iodine Deficiency Disorders as a consequence. Additionally, nations from every continent have lent their support to this endeavor and devised methods to guarantee that their populations receive adequate iodine.
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FAQs for International Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention Day
Preventing iodine deficiency involves determining what measures can be taken.
Iodine can be added to community-level food and water supplies in order to prevent iodine deficiency disorder. Iodization with salt is a prevalent technique for accomplishing this. In underdeveloped nations, periodic injections of iodized oil supplements serve as an alternative.
What is the reason for iodizing salt?
This is because sodium fortification is one of the most economical, time-tested, and dependable methods for ensuring adequate iodine intake.
Which foods should individuals with iodine deficiency avoid?
Individuals who are supplement users or predisposed to iodine deficiency should restrict or eliminate their intake of soy products, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, mustard greens, and turnips. This is due to the presence of thiocyanates in these foods, which obstruct the thyroid gland’s iodine absorption mechanism.
Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention Day: A Guide to Observation
Gain additional knowledge about iodine
Iodine is vital for all individuals. You may devote some time to this day to expand your knowledge of its significance and inform others about it.
Have your thyroid examined.
Schedule an appointment for a thyroid-level examination. This is particularly critical if you are exhibiting any symptoms associated with iodine deficiency.
A Donation
Donate to an organization combating iodine deficiency, if at all possible. Additionally, you can motivate others to do so through social media.
Five Unexpected Facts Regarding Iodine
Count of individuals afflicted
Owing to this deficiency, more than two billion individuals worldwide are afflicted, representing one-third of the world’s population.
The origins of iodine
Iodine is found in various seafood products and fish, including tuna and cod, prawns, and seaweed.
Iodized sodium
Iodized salt is among the most effective food sources for obtaining iodine.
Iodine consumption
The recommended iodine intake for adults is 150 mcg, whereas expectant women should consume 220 mcg.
Affected areas
Iodine deficiency is more widely observed in the Western Pacific, Southeast Asia, and Africa compared to other regions globally.
GLOBAL IODINE DEFICIENCY DISORDERS PREVENTION DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | October 21 | Saturday |
| 2024 | October 21 | Monday |
| 2025 | October 21 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | October 21 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | October 21 | Thursday |
