October 31, 2007: Moskovskiy Komsomolec: It is only in Russia where they make iodized vodkaMoskovskiy Komsomolec, № 24608, 31.10.2007, page 9 In Russia, some 35% of its population suffer from iodine deficiency, though they are not aware of it. If you display such symptoms as apathy, sleepiness, inability to concentrate and work, you’d better have a consultation with an endocrinologist. According to the estimates of the Endocrinology Centre under the RF Ministry of Health and Social Development, the daily intake of iodine among average Russian residents stays at the level of 40 to 80 mcg, which is two to three times less than the actual daily requirement. However, we, Russians, have something to be proud of – it is iodized vodka that is produced only in Russia! Iodine is present in the human body in minute quantities – as little as 20 to 30 mg, with 10 mg absorbed by thyroid glands. However, iodine is a constituent of vital thyroid hormones, without which a human being can not lead a full life for lack of energy and owing to reduced immunity. As to children yet to be born, lack of iodine results in irreversible mental retardation. “Scientists experimented with tadpoles removing their thyroid glands. Tadpoles didn’t transform into frogs, as their development had stopped. A fetus in the mother’s womb will develop regardless of iodine shortage in her diet, but it will have an adverse impact on the development of their intellectual abilities”, Professor Grigory Gerasimov, ICCIDD Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said commenting on the problem. “The average IQ score of a human being is 100 points”, Grigory Gerasimov continued. “With an IQ score below 70 points, a person is mentally impaired. With an IQ score above 130 points, a person is a genius. IQ score of 90-110 is a norm”. Such is the average IQ level in Japan. In Russia, there is a shortage of iodine in people’s diet which results in a lower average IQ score within the range of 80-100 points. It means that due to iodine deficiency, Russia’s intellectual potential is reduced by 10-13%! If a fetus in the mother’s womb fails to receive iodine in sufficient quantities during the early stages of pregnancy, it will fail to reach its full physical and intellectual potential at later stages. Interestingly enough, Russia, until recently, did not belong to the group of iodine-deficient countries for a very simple reason: in the 1950s-80s, mandatory salt iodization was widely practiced throughout Russia. “However, since early 90s, the programme of universal salt iodisation was phased out in Russia”, Grigory Gerasimov said. “For many years already, UNICEF has been trying to bring it back. Mandatory salt iodization is practiced in many countries of the world and in all former republics of the Soviet Union, except for Russia and Ukraine, where only 30% of all produced salt is iodized. Recently, similar research was conducted in China and Iran focusing on children’s intellectual potential. Earlier, the population in both countries had a shortage of iodine in their diet. However, following the introduction of universal salt iodization, children’s IQ score has gone up by 15-20% over the period of 12 years!”. There is no difference between iodized salt and regular non-iodized salt, neither in taste nor in color. Even the price for iodized salt could be the same, if the government is really concerned over this problem – the average cost of prevention of IDD through USI is only 8-10 rubles per person per year. It is at least 10 times less expensive than the use of pharmaceuticals and food iodine supplements that are currently very aggressively advertised and promoted in the Russian Federation. Professor Gerasimov believes that the above could be the reason why the efforts to prevent iodine deficiency in Russia are currently stuck. UNICEF considers elimination of iodine deficiency in Russia to be one of its priority goals, the same as, for instance, reduction of child mortality. Over the last four years, three draft laws on USI were submitted to the State Duma, and the Government has rejected them three times under various excuses. The most frequently voiced argument against the draft law is that consumer rights would not be respected with mandatory salt iodization. But consumers receive piped chlorinated water at home! And this is being done for strategic reasons – to protect public health all over the country. In a few very specific cases when people can not consume iodine or do not want to use iodized salt, innovative solutions can be found. In Italy, for example, only iodized salt is displayed on shelves. Consumers, if they wish, can request managers of retail shops to provide them with non-iodized salt that is stored at the back of the shop. Speaking about the right to a free choice between regular and iodized salt, it is this right that is being violated today. In the Moscow region, IDD prevention is almost inaccessible to the majority of its residenst, particularly to those who live in far-away and rural areas… According to Professor Gerasimov, iodization is now being transformed from a government programme into profitable business. Entrepreneurs, taking advantage of iodine deficiency, produce goods that might appeal to consumers. “Iodized vodka priced at 200 euros per bottle is produced only in Russia”, Grigory Gerasimov seems sincerely amused. “And they buy it! An egg can not be iodized. Consumers are cheated when they buy such eggs, but boxes of eggs bearing stamps “enriched with iodine” sell well. The same as artificial caviar made from “iodized” eggs. Otherwise, no one would be buying it… Thus, the introduction of mandatory iodization will have an adverse effect on entrepreneurs’ revenues. First and foremost, pharmaceutical companies will be affected in the first place because expensive iodine supplements will no longer be needed. How can iodine deficiency be established? Iodine deficiency is displayed through such symptoms as reduced intellectual and physical capacities, sleepiness, chronic constipation, susceptibility to colds, heart troubles, hair loss or thinning hair, nail brittleness, obesity and infertility. In what quantity should iodine be consumed on a daily basis? – Is there such a thing as iodine overdose? The largest safe dose is up to 1000 mcg per day. There is very little risk of iodine overdose, only if you drink its alcoholic solution. The iodine content in such solution exceeds the daily requirement by dozens of times. Moreover, you will burn the mucous coat of your mouth and esophagus and display symptoms of overdose such as fever, heartbeat, skin rash, swelling of salivary glands. Could one make up for a deficiency in iodine by including laminaria into one’s diet? On the average, 100 grams of seaweed are believed to contain around 1,400 mcg of iodine. However, it should be noted that this figure varies depending on its type and locality. Besides, when laminaria, fish or buckwheat, which also contains this vital element, are subjected to heat treatment, 20 to 40% of iodine is lost. Sea fish, sea food and fish oil are also very rich in iodine – about 800-1000 mg/kg. No matter what, salt iodization is the simplest and the most reliable way of IDD prevention. One gram of iodized salt contains 40 mcg of iodine. The daily intake of salt is about 5 grams. Thus, a person receives the required daily dose of 100-200 mcg of iodine. In order to preserve iodine, salt should be added at the end rather than at the beginning of cooking. Or your food could be cooked unsalted, and salt added to your liking when eating. The supply of iodized salt to the Moscow region started in 1955, but was stopped afterwards. As a result, presently the region is referred to a group of regions experiencing iodine deficiency at an average severity level. Monitoring of goiter endemia and the level of iodine intake among children aged 8 to 10 years old was conducted in the town of Elektrostal in 2001 and in Mytishchi, Podolsk, Yegoriyevsk and Kolomna – in 2003. Goitre prevalence among children in the said urban areas ranged from 3% (Elektrostal) to 17% (Yegoriyevsk). Over the last ten years, the frequency of thyroid glands pathology among pregnant women in the Moscow region has increased by as much as 3.7 times – from 0.7% in 1992 to 2.7% in 2003. Thyroid glands pathology is diagnosed in every fourth woman, and it results in complications during pregnancy and has an adverse impact on fetal development and health of a newly-born baby. Cases have already been reported of pregnant women with thyroid cancer giving birth to babies. By Anastasiya Kuzina Translation: Natalya Obukauskene
|
