All About Iodine | CHAPTER 8 | Basic Science

All About Iodine – Introduction to fundamental concepts of Biological Science including the organization and common characteristics of living matters, cell structures and functions, food production by photosynthesis, harvesting energy, mechanism of cells reproduction, genetics, evolutions, and Human Biology. Introduction to general chemistry including basic concepts about matter, atomic structure, chemical bonds, gases, liquid, and solids, solutions, chemical reactions, acid, bases, and salt;

organic and biochemistry including hydrocarbons and their derivatives, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals, nucleic acids; principles of physics and applications to nursing including gravity and mechanics, pressure, heat and electricity; nuclear chemistry and nuclear physics, effects of radiation on human beings, and protection and disposal. The aim of the course is to acquire knowledge and skills in general biological science, general chemistry and physics.

All About Iodine

Iodine (1):
Iodine is a constituent of thyroxine, the active principle of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland, weighing about 25 mg a normal adult, contains only about 10 mg of Iodine. The adult body as a whole contains about 50 mg of Iodine. The thyroid gland plays an important part in energy metabolism and in the growth of the body. About 1/3rd of iodine in the adult body is found in the thyroid gland where it is stored in the form of thyroglobulin. Iodine is essential for the production of thyroxin (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3).

Sources of iodine:

1. Best sources:

• Cod liver oil
• Sea foods – sea fish

2. Source with smaller amounts:

• Meat
• Milk
• Cereals
• Vegetables
• Artificial source:
  ✓ Iodized table salt

Functions of Iodine

1. Iodine is required for the synthesis of the thyroid hormones-thyroxine (T4) and tri- iodothyronine (T3)
2. It is essential in minute amounts for the normal growth and development and wellbeing of all humans.
3. Iodine is needed for the oxygen consumption by the tissue.
4. Iodine is required for the proper, functioning of nervous and muscular tissue, circulatory and metabolisms of nutrients.

Goiter:

Goiter can be defined as the swelling of the thyroid gland due to dysfunction of thyroid homeostasis resulting from iodine deficiency.

Effects of iodine deficiency:
A. Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) /Endemic goiter: In children, severe iodine deficiency may result in serious retardation of growth. This condition is known as cretinism.
B. Other severe forms of iodine deficiency include:

1. Hypothyroidism.
2. Retarded physical development and impaired mental function.
3. Increased rate of spontaneous abortion and stillbirth.
4. Neurological cretinism, including deaf, mutism, and
5. Myxo-edematous cretinism, including dwarfism and severe retardation.

Daily requirements of iodine:

Metabolism of iodine:
Iodine is ingested in foods as inorganic iodides and as organic compounds. In the digestive tract iodine is split from organic compounds and is rapidly absorbed as inorganic iodide. The degree of absorption is dependent upon the level of circulating thyroid hormone. Thyroid activity is controlled by the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary.

Importance of Iodine in the Human Body

• Iodine is required for the synthesis of the thyroid hormones-thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3)
• It is essential in minute amounts for the normal growth and development and wellbeing of all humans.
• Iodine is needed for the oxygen consumption by the tissue.
• Iodine is required for the prop”, functioning of nervous and muscular tissue, circulatory and

Prevention of Iodine Deficiency Disorders:

1. Iodized salt:

• It is not less than 30 ppm at the production point.
• It is not less than 15 ppm of iodine at the consumer level.
• Iodized oil, oral: The oral administration of iodine as iodized oil or as sodium iodate tablets is technically simpler than the injection method.

2. Iodine monitoring:

• Determination of iodine excretion.
• Determination of iodine in water, soil and food.
• Determination of iodine in salt for quality control.

3. Manpower: It is vital for the success of control that health workers and others engaged in the program be fully trained in all aspects of goitre control including legal enforcement and public education.
4. Mass communication: Mass communication is a powerful tool for nutrition education. It should be fully used in goitre control work.
5. Hazards of iodization: A mild increase in incidence of thyrotoxicosis has now been described following iodized salt program.

FLUORINE

Fluorine (F):

Fluorine is a trace element not found in Free State. It is available in fluoride form. About 96 percent of the fluoride in the body is found in bones and teeth. Fluoride is essential for the normal mineralization of bones and formation of dental enamel. Deficiency of fluorine in drinking water causes dental carries. Fluorides are involved with the maintenance of bone structure. The fluoride salts of calcium are less readily lost from bone during immobilization or following the menopause. Fluorides are absorbed from gastrointestinal tract. Fluoride ingested is excreted in the urine.

Sources of fluorine:
1. Drinking water: The main source of fluoride to man is drinking water. The fluoride content of drinking water in our country is about 0.5 mg /litre, but in fluorosis-endemic areas, the natural waters have been found to contain as much as 3 to 12 mg of fluorides per litre. The average adult man ingests about I mg of fluoride daily from drinking water.
2. Foods source: Sea fish, cheese, tea etc. The daily diet may provide 0.25 to 0.35 mg fluoride.

Functions of fluorine:
1. Essential for normal mineralization of bones.
2. Essential for formation of dental enamel.
3. Fluoride is required for the formation of caries resistant teeth

Effects of fluorine deficiency or excess:
1. Dental fluorosis (effects of excess fluorine)
2. Skeletal fluorosis (effects of excess fluorine)
3. Dental caries-due to deficiency of fluorine.
4. Yellow-brown stain occurs on the teeth

Daily requirement of fluorine:

• Infant – 0.1-0.5 mg/L drinking water
• Adult – 1.5-4 mg/L drinking water

ZINC

Sources of zinc: Zinc is widely distributed in foodstuffs, both vegetable and animal origin.
1. Vegetable sources: The bioavailability of zinc vegetable foods is low, Oatmeal, Wheat whole, pulses, nuts and oil seed, orange, bread etc.
2. Animal sources: Meat, milk and fish are dependable sources.

Functions of zinc:
1. Essential in normal reproduction.
2. Required for cell growth.
3. Zinc is active in the metabolism of glycosides and proteins.
4. It is required for the synthesis of insulin by the pancreas
5. It is required for the immune function.
6. It needed for the formation of DNA and RNA and connective tissues,
7. It is found in insulin.
8. It helps in healing burns wound interference with utilization of copper occurs due to high intake of zinc.
9. Zinc is part of many enzymes.

Effects of zinc deficiency:
Zinc deficiency leads to-
1. Growth retardation.
2. Sexual infantilism.
3. Multiple infections.
4. Skin disorders.
5. Disorders in taste
6. Delayed reproductive growth.
7. Anaemia

Daily requirement of zinc:

Causes of zinc deficiency:
1. Suppressed taste and odour acuity is a consequence of zinc deficiency.
2. Hypogeusia – Decrease in taste acuity.
3. Dysgeusia – Unpleasant, obnoxious taste.
4. Hyposmia – Decrease in odour acuity.
5. Dysomia – Disagreeable odour sensation.

Causes of low plasma zinc:
1. Intestinal disease.
2. Anorexia nervosa.
3. Diabetes mellitus.
4. Nephrotic syndrome.
5. Burns.
6. Hemodialysis.
7. Chronic febrile illness.
8. Chronic alcoholism.

COPPER

Copper (Cu):
Copper is a trace element essential for the human body. Copper is found in the brain, liver, heart and kidneys. Adult body contains 100 to 150 mg of copper. Blood, plasma, and RBC have highest content of copper. Deficiency or excess of copper rarely occurs. It has some role in the synthesis of haemoglobin, connective tissue formation and bone development. Normal serum level of copper is about 16 pg percent. Normal daily diet contains 2 mg copper on average.

Sources of copper:
1. Common salt.
2. Banana.
3. Tomatoes.
4. Green leafy vegetables
5. Bajra.
6. Sorghum.
7. Maize whole wheat.
8. Pulses black gram.
9. Dried peas.
10. Cow gram.
11. Cashew nuts.
12. Ground nuts.
13. Drum sticks.
14. Beet root.

Functions of copper:

• Copper facilitates the absorption of iron
• Plays a role in the incorporation of iron in the haemoglobin molecules and cytochrome.
• It is necessary for the conversion of the amino acid tyrosine to melanin.
• Copper is required for the bone development.
• In presence of copper absorption of iron takes place.
• Copper is essential for the health of the central nervous system.
• Copper is required for melanine pigment sheath formation
• It required for maturation of collagen.
• It required for haemoglobin formation

Effects of copper deficiency:
Deficiency of copper is known as hypocupremia. It causes-
1. Osteoporosis.
2. Spontaneous fracture
3. Connective tissue dysfunction.
4. Cardiovascular disorder and
5. Massive internal bleeding.
6. Copper deficiency is associated with protein energy malnutrition.

Daily requirement of copper:

CHROMIUM (CR)

Chromium (Cr):
Chromium is a trace element. Six (6) milligram of chromium is present in human body. It is present in the blood adrenal glands, skin, hair, brain and tissue. Chromium content in the blood is .009 to
0.055 ppm” Chromium is believed to be involved in the metabolism of glucose. It is widely distributed in natural food items. The normal serum level is 0.02 j.g per 100 ml. The normal requirement is 0.15 mg daily.

Sources of chromium:
Chromium is present in:

• Whole grain cereal.
• Yeast.
• Liver and Meat

Functions of chromium:
1. Chromium is required for the metabolism of carbohydrate and lipid protein.
2. It is required for the formation of glucose tolerance factors.
3. Presence of chromium is required for the action of insulin on glucose.

Effects of chromium deficiency:
Deficiency of chromium causes-

• Disturbances in glucose, lipid and
• protein metabolism and Growth retardation.

Daily requirement of chromium:
The normal requirement is 0.15 mg daily. Daily requirement of chromium is met by the normal diet.

Cobalt (Co)

Cobalt (Co):
Cobalt occurs in small amounts in all tissues, highest concentration occurring in liver and kidneys. Most of the cobalt is present in vitamin B12. Cobalt present in the diet is absorbed to the extent of 70-80 percent and about half the absorbed cobalt is excreted in the urine. The excretion in the faces is 20 to 30 percent of the intake.

It is known to take an essential role in the metabolism of the sulphur containing amino acid methionine” Its deficiency is unlikely because a variety of food items contain this trace element required. Generally speaking, foods rich in vitamin B12 (viz. liver, meat, milk, whole meal flour etc.) are good natural sources of cobalt. Recommended daily requirement is 0.3 mg.

Functions of cobalt:
1. Necessary for the first stage of hormone production.
2. Cobalt may be necessary for the first stage of hormone production and capture of iodine by the gland.

Effects of cobalt deficiency:
1. Cobalt deficiency have shown to produce goiter in human.
2. Cobalt may interact with iodine and affect its utilization.
3. Human beings require a dietary source of vitamin B12 and cannot synthesize it in the body

Manganese (Mn)

Manganese
The body of a normal man weighing 70 kg contains about 12-2A mg manganese. It is distributed throughout the body tissues and fluids. The following tissues, viz. bone, kidney, liver, pancreases and pituitary contain more manganese than other tissues. The manganese content of human blood is very low-2 to 3 microgram /100 ml. It is excreted mostly in bile. Rich natural sources are cereals, pulses, nuts, tea, and coffee. Average diet provides more than 5 mg of the element daily. Minimum daily requirement is 3.7 mg.

Effects of manganese deficiency:
The most important deficiency effects observed are:
1. Impaired growth.
2. Skeletal abnormalities.
3. Depressed reproductive function
4. Ataxia of the newborn

Manganese toxicity in human:
Toxic symptoms have due to inhalation of dust from manganese ores. The signs and symptoms are been reported to occur in mine workers
1. Blurred speech.
2. Tremors of the hands and
3. Spastic gait”

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