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 An inadequate intake of iodine can cause ill health at any age, but is most serious in pregnant women and young children. In pregnancy, it results in retarded foetal development. Severe deficiency may result in foetal death or severe physical and mental retardation, a disease known as cretinism.
Milder deficiencies cause less severe but significant mental & physical retardation. In
    childhood, it may also result in speech & hearing defects, delayed motor development & impaired physical growth. In adults, chronic deficiency causes goitre, a swelling of the thyroid gland at the base of the neck, which may be disfiguring. Grouped together, goitre, cretinism &delayed physical & mental development due to iodine deficiency are known as Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD).
    (see Hetzel, B.S. and C.S. Pandav, eds.. S.O.S. for a billion: The conquest of Iodine Deficiency Disorders. Oxford University Press, 2nd ed. 1996)

    The soil in many regions of the world is very poor in iodine and all food produced in this environment will likely be iodine deficient. In these areas, IDD will continue unless a new source of I is provided, either from imported food or from a supplement.

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