Iodine is an essential mineral commonly found in seafood. Your thyroid gland uses it to make thyroid hormones, which help control growth, repair damaged cells and support a healthy metabolism. Your body doesn’t naturally produce iodine, but it is found in plenty of foods that we eat every day. These include fish, milk, cheese, fruits, vegetables, and anything containing iodized salt.
Here are 10 signs and symptoms of an iodine deficiency.
Our thyroid gland is located in our neck. Since iodine is an important fuel for your thyroid, this area is one of the most common places where symptoms begin to manifest. This is called a goiter and occurs when the thyroid gland grows too big.
The American Thyroid Association points out that,"The thyroid enlarges as it attempts to keep up with your body’s demand for hormone production, which leads to the swelling in the neck and the development of a goiter."
Fatigue and weakness are also common symptoms of an iodine deficiency. In fact, some studies have found that nearly 80% of people with low thyroid hormone levels, which occur in cases of iodine deficiency, feel tired, sluggish and weak. Feeling unusually weak or tired can be expected when you’re not receiving enough nutrients, or are working with an under-active thyroid that doesn’t have enough iodine available to function properly.
Unexpected weight gain is another sign of an iodine deficiency. It may occur if the body does not have enough iodine to make thyroid hormones. However, if you’ve noticed an unusual gain and can’t pinpoint a cause, like a change in diet or exercise, it could be worth getting your iodine levels looked into.
According to the Australian Thyroid Foundation,"Not receiving enough iodine can lead to hypothyroidism, which often results in unforeseen weight gain."
Adding more iodine to your diet may help reverse the effects of a slow metabolism, as it can help your body make more thyroid hormones.
Dry, flaky skin may affect many people with an iodine deficiency. In fact, some studies have found that up to 77% of people with low thyroid hormone levels may experience dry, flaky skin (12).
According to the Thyroid Foundation of Canada,"If your thyroid isn’t receiving enough iodine to distribute hormones the way it should, your skin reacts by becoming dry and flaky."
Additionally, thyroid hormones help the body regulate sweat. People with lower thyroid hormone levels, such as those with an iodine deficiency, tend to sweat less than people with normal thyroid hormone levels.
Like many things, our hair growth is regulated by our hormones, and by association the thyroid. When your thyroid hormone levels are low, your hair follicles may stop regenerating. Over time, this may result in hair loss. For this reason, people with an iodine deficiency may also suffer from hair loss.
According to the Mayo Clinic,"Hair loss can be caused by a host of other things like heredity, medication, and age. However, if those things do not apply to you, you might want to have your iodine levels checked, and consider whether your thyroid is responsible."
Feeling cold is a common symptom of an iodine deficiency. Everyone is different, but if you’ve noticed that your resting temperature is particularly cold compared to other people, you might want to get your iodine levels tested. A slower metabolism generates less heat, which may cause you to feel colder than usual.
According to the Australian Thyroid Foundation,"Body temperature is just one of the many functions your thyroid regulates and is a symptom of hypothyroidism."
Your heart rate is a measure of how many times your heart beats per minute. It may be affected by your iodine levels. Too little of this mineral could cause your heart to beat slower than usual, while too much of it could cause your heart to beat faster than usual. A severe iodine deficiency may cause an abnormally slow heart rate. This could make you feel weak, fatigued, dizzy and possibly cause you to faint.
According to Iodine Research,"The heart is a target organ for thyroid hormones. An irregular heart rate goes hand in hand with a lack of iodine in your system and the fact that your thyroid hormones aren’t functioning properly as a result."
While many learning or memory issues may be genetic, it’s important to know that iodine levels are associated with alertness and intelligence. Thyroid hormones help your brain grow and develop. That’s why an iodine deficiency, which is required to make thyroid hormones, can reduce brain development.
According to the American Thyroid Association,"Mild iodine deficiency during pregnancy is linked with low intelligence in children. If your memory and learning issues aren’t already preexisting, you might want to add some iodine to your diet to help make sure you’re firing on all cylinders."
Pregnant women are at a high risk of iodine deficiency. This is because they need to consume enough to meet their own daily needs, as well as the needs of their growing baby. Not consuming enough iodine throughout pregnancy and lactation may cause side effects for both the mother and baby.
The American Thyroid Association says,"Iodine deficiency is linked to issues like miscarriage and stillbirth. Babies who are born in spite of being iodine deficient may suffer from brain development issues, hearing problems, spasticity, and short stature."
There are few parts of your body that aren’t targeted by your thyroid, which is why menstrual cycles are often affected when women aren’t receiving enough iodine. Research also shows that women with low thyroid hormone levels experience more frequent menstrual cycles with heavy bleeding. This is because low thyroid hormone levels disrupt the signals of hormones that are involved in the menstrual cycle.
According to Thyroid Nation,"An overactive thyroid can suppress ovulation. On the other hand, an under-active thyroid caused by a lack of iodine will lead to heavy and irregular cycles."
