IODINE AND LIFE

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 33, 23 January 1930, Page 10

IODINE AND LIFE

AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT

lodine is known to most'in the form of a tincture used as an antiseptic for wounds j. It wa~s used' for this purpose by most troops in the Great War with .-a resulting low mortality. But valuable as it will always ..be,'for this.purpose, research has definitely proved that life could not normally continxie without this essential element. \~;; O. * Small quantities of iodine are being constantly introduced into the human and animal body in .the food consumed and it is stored and made use of by one of those, mysterious glandular bodies — namely, the , thyroid gland; • This gland, situated in the, front of the throat, has two lobes lying one on.each side of the larynx^ each' of wliich has a definite work to perform. " -._.■

The. thja'oid gland in the course ef • its work which is not yet fully elucidated, takes in the iodine ingested into the body and manufactures, by its complex machinery, a fluid* which contains an aci'tive principle —very: aptly called ~thyroxin. This compound contains two-thirds of its weight of iodine. Tlius it can be realised that if an insufficiency of iodine is taken into the body the thyroid gland cannot perform-its work, because one of the essentials-ingredients is lackiiig.

This is frequently the case. Its. results can be seen. any day in the street in the form of goitre, which-is a> pathological or diseased condition directly resulting from lack of iodine. This lack manifests itself in the enlargements o-f the thyroid gland.

On the other hand an over-active thyroid causes a disease caUed exophthalmic goitre, which manifests itself by a curious bulging of the eyes, wasting of the system and palpitation. This condition can be produced by excessive intake of iodine, so that proper medical advice is, imperative. WHAT IT DOES. But what purpose does this secretion of the gland serve? The following statement by Dr. Barwise, medical officer of Derbyshire, briefly and effectively gives the answer: — .: V lit is necessary for effective metabolism —i.e., the constructive and destruc the changes in the body—and specially promotes respiratory exchanges antl physical growth. .-■. .; . . ••' •■•-.■ 2. It promotes efficient, menal development, a severe shortage before birth, resulting in cretinism-^-stunted growth, anc; mentality, even imbecility. 3. It is? specially required in the pregnant condition both for the mother and the child. " : 4. It is necessary at the age of adoles:' eenefe for the development of the reproductive organs, particularly in the female; ' ""'■

5. It is needed to keep the skin and its appendages , in, a :healthy Condition. A diy skill and falling.iiaii- mean thy.roid efficiency. 6. It is^essential for efficient disgestion, assiifidfl&tion and epmbustiloa. ef fats. When a shortage occurs, the fat cannot be sati3fact6rily dealt with and it is stored in the tissues, thus causing obesity, ; '-.. " . 7. It is required for the efficient assimilation of calcium, one. .of the most •'important of 'bone-foming minerals. '"■ 8. .It1 is necessary to-enable^ tlie system to resist the invasion of microbes and to render harmless the poisons in the'blood performs much the same functions as it does externally as an antiseptic for wounds. Thus the iodine in the body has many duties to perform in the economy..: and' .metabolism of life and as there is a oons'tant loss through excretion, the must be renewed for the efficient; working of , the delicate machinery. In manyparts of: the world there is a deficiency of iodine in the soil, so in the pasture, and so in the food consumed, because it must be remembered that all the food we consume is produced from vegetation which" itself comes from the soil.

The story is a fascinating one, and deserves more publicity than it has had.

Apart from its fundamental importance to human life, there are associated problems of great economic importance being investigated.

Thus the production of milk from the cow is controlled by the: thyroid- seere-. tion; the efficient of beef is affected; the yield of meat and wool from sheep is involved; a deficiency affects the growth of pigs/and the size and health' of the. litter; fowls cannot effectually produce eggs without its help. ■"';; These few facts shouloi serve jEo shed a little light on iodine and its effect on life. :;■•■.- •;■■' ' ' .■■::■: ~ ' :':-:-'" ..