How Common is Iodine Deficiency?
Recent research has shown that at least one out of every 10 people living in the United States have clear cut iodine deficiency, based on urine testing for iodine. Iodine deficiency is more common among women in their reproductive years. You need to know that if you are pregnant, you need to consume more iodine and you are more likely to have iodine deficiency because the developing fetus consumes some of the iodine that you have in your system. Iodine deficiency during pregnancy is the leading cause of intellectual deficit and mental impairment among newborns. Worldwide, 20 to 30 percent of people do not consume adequate amounts of iodine. Before the 1920s, iodine deficiency was quite common in some areas of the United States. Since then, because of iodine supplementation, iodine deficiency has become less common. However, since the 1970s, the consumption of iodine has been declining in the United States, mostly because of changes in diet and because many foods do not contain adequate
