October 21 – World Iodine Deficiency Day

Iodine is a vital trace element without which the thyroid gland, brain, and the entire body cannot function normally.

Unfortunately, more than 70% of Ukraine’s territory belongs to regions with a natural iodine deficiency.

⚠️ Consequences of iodine deficiency:

📍thyroid dysfunction (enlargement, hypothyroidism);

📍decreased concentration, memory, and performance;

📍in children — delayed physical and intellectual development;

📍in pregnant women — risk of miscarriage, congenital anomalies, and reduced IQ in the child.

💡 Advice from experts at the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine:

✅Use iodized salt for cooking — this is the simplest and cheapest way to prevent iodine deficiency.

✅Store it in a tightly closed container — iodine evaporates when exposed to air.

✅Add salt after cooking, not during cooking.

✅Check the condition of your thyroid gland regularly — especially for children, adolescents, and women during pregnancy.

✅On the advice of a doctor, you can add foods rich in iodine: sea fish, seaweed, dairy products, eggs.

📊 According to the WHO, more than 2 billion people worldwide are at risk of iodine deficiency, including about 350 million children.

❗The National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine reminds us that prevention is always more effective than treatment.

Let’s take care of our health — starting with small steps!

(date of publication on the website: 21.10.2025)