Journal
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
Volume 56, Issue 16, Pages 2695-2713Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC
DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2014.922042
Keywords
Iodine; thyroid hormones; cognition; development; goitre
Categories
Funding
- University of Otago
- Laurenson Fund
- Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust
- University of Otago Graduate Research Committee
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Iodine is an essential micronutrient needed in human diets. As iodine is an integral component of thyroid hormone, it mediates the effects of thyroid hormone on brain development. Iodine deficiency is the most prevalent and preventable cause of mental impairment in the world. The exact mechanism through which iodine influences the brain is unclear, but is generally thought to begin with genetic expression. Many brain structures and systems appear to be affected with iodine deficiency, including areas such as the hippocampus, microstructures such as myelin, and neurotransmitters. The clearest evidence comes from the studies examining cognition in the cases of iodine deprivation or interventions involving iodine supplementation. Nevertheless, there are many inconsistencies and gaps in the literature of iodine deficiency, especially over the lifespan. This paper summarizes the literature on this topic, suggests a causal mechanism for iodine's effect on the brain, and indicates areas for the future research (e.g., using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional MRI to examine how iodine supplementation facilitates cognitive functioning).
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available