Iodine Deficiency in China - Implementations of Solutions

Implementations of Solutions

The levels of iodized salt were measured in a urinalysis of certain households in China. It was confirmed that about 15–25 mg/kg of iodized salt content in the diet was sufficient in preventing IDDs and preventing side effects of over consumption. In Chinese provinces, where people are consuming less than this amount, there is an increased amount of improper brain development in children. Furthermore, you can see the relation between the importance of iodine in thyroid hormones and the IDD Goitre. This disease causes a swelling in the neck, where the thyroid glands are located, leading to impaired cognitive abilities. The child population was about 20% saturated with the disease, but continues to decrease with the new initiatives. Another common IDD prevalent in China is Kashin-Beck disease. A particular outbreak in Tibet was recorded as occurring from lack of iodine. Kashin-Beck is a bone deformity endemic. Iodine deficiency, hypothyroidism, and low serum concentrations of thyroxine-binding globulin were significantly related to Kashin–Beck disease. Iodine supplemented irrigation water in combination to iodized salt helps in reducing the neonatal and infant mortality rates. The province of Xinjiang suffers severely from IDDs and in 1993, started the use of potassium iodate in combination with irrigation water. Irrigation water is widely used and accessible to all households making it the predominant solution in reducing micronutrient deficiencies for Xinjiang.