Iodine deficiency in China
Encyclopedia
Iodine deficiency
is still a widespread problem in western
, southern
and eastern
parts of China
, as their iodized salt intake level is much lower than the average national level.
The Chinese government started an iodized salt program in 1995, and it aimed to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) by 2010.
In 2007, 94.3 percent of Chinese used iodized salt, up 0.5 percent from 2006. However, the country's program to fortify salt with iodine has not been fully implemented in some areas. The iodized salt intake rate was below 90 percent in Guangdong
, Hainan
, Qinghai
, Shanghai
, Tibet
, and Xinjiang
.
People with iodine deficiencies are prone to suffering goitre
, a swelling of the neck resulting from enlargement of the thyroid gland, which can also lead to learning disabilities. Iodine deficiencies can also cause miscarriage
s.
In Tibet, epidemiological studies carried out in 1995-1996 by Médecins Sans Frontières
and coll. showed that Kashin-Beck disease
was associated with iodine deficiency
and with fungal contamination of barley grains by Alternaria
sp., Trichotecium sp., Cladosporium
sp. and Drechslera
sp. (Chasseur et al., 1997). There were also indications that organic matter in drinking water played a role.
Iodine deficiency
Iodine is an essential trace element; the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodotyronine contain iodine. In areas where there is little iodine in the diet—typically remote inlandareas where no marine foods are eaten—iodine deficiency gives rise to...
is still a widespread problem in western
Western China
Western China , refers to the western part of China. In the definition of the Chinese government, Western China covers six provinces: Gansu, Guizhou, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Yunnan; one municipality: Chongqing; and three autonomous regions: Ningxia, Tibet, and Xinjiang.-Administrative...
, southern
Northern and southern China
Northern China and southern China are two approximate regions within China. The exact boundary between these two regions has never been precisely defined...
and eastern
Eastern China
Eastern China or East China may mean:* East China* East China Township, Michigan - East China Charter Township in Michigan, USA* ECNU - East China Normal University* Northeast China* Northeast China Plain* Southeast China-See also:...
parts of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, as their iodized salt intake level is much lower than the average national level.
The Chinese government started an iodized salt program in 1995, and it aimed to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) by 2010.
In 2007, 94.3 percent of Chinese used iodized salt, up 0.5 percent from 2006. However, the country's program to fortify salt with iodine has not been fully implemented in some areas. The iodized salt intake rate was below 90 percent in Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
, Hainan
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
, Qinghai
Qinghai
Qinghai ; Oirat Mongolian: ; ; Salar:) is a province of the People's Republic of China, named after Qinghai Lake...
, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, and Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
.
People with iodine deficiencies are prone to suffering goitre
Goitre
A goitre or goiter , is a swelling in the thyroid gland, which can lead to a swelling of the neck or larynx...
, a swelling of the neck resulting from enlargement of the thyroid gland, which can also lead to learning disabilities. Iodine deficiencies can also cause miscarriage
Miscarriage
Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or fetus is incapable of surviving independently, generally defined in humans at prior to 20 weeks of gestation...
s.
In Tibet, epidemiological studies carried out in 1995-1996 by Médecins Sans Frontières
Médecins Sans Frontières
' , or Doctors Without Borders, is a secular humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization best known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic diseases. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland...
and coll. showed that Kashin-Beck disease
Kashin-Beck Disease
Kashin-Beck disease is a chronic, endemic osteochondropathy , which is mainly distributed from northeastern to southwestern China involving 15 provinces . Tibet currently has the highest incidence rate of KBD in China . Southeast Siberia and North Korea are also other affected areas...
was associated with iodine deficiency
Iodine deficiency
Iodine is an essential trace element; the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodotyronine contain iodine. In areas where there is little iodine in the diet—typically remote inlandareas where no marine foods are eaten—iodine deficiency gives rise to...
and with fungal contamination of barley grains by Alternaria
Alternaria
Alternaria is a genus of ascomycete fungi. Alternaria species are known as major plant pathogens. They are also common allergens in humans, growing indoors and causing hay fever or hypersensitivity reactions that sometimes lead to asthma...
sp., Trichotecium sp., Cladosporium
Cladosporium
Cladosporium is a genus of fungi including some of the most common indoor and outdoor molds. Species produce olive-green to brown or black colonies, and have dark-pigmented conidia that are formed in simple or branching chains....
sp. and Drechslera
Drechslera
Drechslera is a genus of fungi. Many of the species in this genus are plant pathogens. Drechslera puttaparthii is a new species found recently by Dr.Vijay Kumar. at Department of Biosciences. Sri Sathya Sai institute of higher learning. Prasanthinilayam....
sp. (Chasseur et al., 1997). There were also indications that organic matter in drinking water played a role.
See also
- Kashin-Beck diseaseKashin-Beck DiseaseKashin-Beck disease is a chronic, endemic osteochondropathy , which is mainly distributed from northeastern to southwestern China involving 15 provinces . Tibet currently has the highest incidence rate of KBD in China . Southeast Siberia and North Korea are also other affected areas...
- Malnutrition
- Iodine
External links
- Combating Iodine Deficiency Disorder In China A May 1996 report from U.S. Embassy Beijing
- An Analysis of Combating Iodine Deficiency: Case Studies of China, Indonesia and Madagascar Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) of the World BankWorld BankThe World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
- China fights fall in IQ due to iodine deficiency News - British Medical JournalBritish Medical JournalBMJ is a partially open-access peer-reviewed medical journal. Originally called the British Medical Journal, the title was officially shortened to BMJ in 1988. The journal is published by the BMJ Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Medical Association...
(BMJ) 1995;310:148 (21 January) - China moves to tackle iodine deficiency BMJ. 1999 September 11; 319(7211): 659.