3. Developmental Delays: Iodine’s Invisible Hand in Brain Health
The next health effect brings us to an often-overlooked sphere of iodine’s influence: the human brain. More specifically, iodine’s pivotal role in fetal and early childhood brain development. When a pregnant woman or young child suffers from iodine deficiency, the resulting cognitive delays can have life-altering impacts.
Firstly, the womb is the initial battleground. During pregnancy, the developing fetus relies on the mother’s thyroid hormones for its brain development. When the mother is iodine deficient, this crucial supply line is disrupted. This interruption can cause irreversible damage to the fetus’s developing nervous system.
Postnatally, the infant’s brain development continues at a rapid pace. During this period, the infant relies on its own thyroid gland to produce the necessary hormones. If iodine intake is insufficient, it can lead to developmental delays. These delays might surface as learning difficulties later in the child’s life.
As the child grows, the aftereffects of early iodine deficiency can manifest in several ways. For instance, it might impact the child’s performance at school. The child could have difficulties keeping up with their peers or grasping new concepts. It’s not a matter of intelligence; instead, it’s a consequence of the early iodine deficiency.
These cognitive impacts also spill over into the social realm. The child might struggle to form relationships or interact with peers. They might seem ‘offbeat’ or ‘different,’ when in reality, they’re grappling with the invisible aftermath of early iodine deficiency. (3)
