[19] Iodization programs have proved its value by reducing goitre size and by preventing goitre development and
cretinism in children.
Severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy has been linked to the risk of spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, reduced intelligence, neurological
cretinism, poor cognitive functions, and delayed psychomotor developments [1, 2, 7].
IDDs are associated with many thyroid related diseases including mental and physical retardation (
cretinism), spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, congenital abnormalities, birth defects, delayed growth and puberty, hypothyroidism, goiter, and infertility.
Thiocyanate in food and iodine in milk: from domestic animal feeding to improved understanding of
cretinism. Thyroid 12:897-902.
By way of example, the most significant impacts of endemic
cretinism on intelligence components are low intelligence and deterioration in visual perception.
Abdul Ghaffar Biloo said iodine deficiency causes increased child mortality, mental retardation, deaf and dumbness, stunting, intellectual impairment (low IQ levels), hypothyroidism,
cretinism, goiter, maternal mortality and morbidity.
According to a survey, iodine deficiency causes increased child mortality, mental retardation, deaf and dumb, stunting, intellectual impairment (less IQ), hypothyroidism,
cretinism, goiter, maternal mortality and morbidity.
Cyanogenic glucosides on hydrolysis will release hydrocyanic acid (HCN) which can cause goiter and
cretinism in humans and animals due to iodine deficiency; however, HCN content is significantly reduced during fermentation of cassava dough.
If iodine deficiency starts in the embryonic period, health problems including deafness, speechlessness, spastic diplegia, strabismus, severe neurological deficit (neurological
cretinism), nanism, psychomotor retardation, stillbirth and mental retardation may be observed (15-18).
Bertoni et al., "Clinical picture of endemic
cretinism in central Apennines (Montefeltro)," Thyroid, vol.
IDD itself can lead to a variety of issues within the body, including thyroid malfunction, brain damage, and even
cretinism, which is a severe form of metal retardation caused by insufficient thyroid hormone (Zimmerman, 2009).
Concurrent iodine and selenium deficiency in children can destroy the thyroid gland, leading to the condition myxoedematous
cretinism. Selenium supplementation should only be given to deficient children in conjunction with iodine.
Obstetrical history was recorded to see the adverse pregnancy outcome as abortion, still births and history of
cretinism in these women.
Severe iodine deficiency causes hypothyroidism, with mental and growth retardation, and can result in children born with
cretinism related to maternal iodine deficiency (19).
