Effects of iodine deficiency . Enlargement of the thyroid - goitre Cretinism Mental retardation. Subtle iodine deficiency affects the woman's ability to have a pregnancy, increases foetal loss. Leads to a lack of concentration, poor memory and sluggishness. When the availability of iodine is low, the thyroid gland grows bigger and bigger.
Iodine deficiency is the major cause of endemic goitre .
Follow-up studies of the Chemobyl nuclear plants disaster have confirmed the risk of thyroid cancer from a nuclear accident. Iodine deficiency during reproductive age may cause inability to conceive. Higher rates of pregnancy loss and, most importantly, mental retardation and various neurological manifestations in the newborn are well-known sequelae of iodine deficiency. While iodine deficiency early in pregnancy accounts for neurological cretin that occurring later in foetal life and continuing through out infancy leads to a profound decrease in thyroid functions, resulting in a myxodernatous cretin . Unlike other nutrients such as iron, calcium, zinc or the vitaniins, iodine does not occur in sufficient concentration in natural foods.