Iodine Deficiency Disorders Continue to be a Problem in the Asia Pacific Region

Abstract

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) due to inadequate dietary iodine is one of the major non-communicable diseases yet to be eliminated from our world, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. There has been remarkable progress in reducing iodine deficiency over the past two decades, with 50 more countries declaring successful elimination mainly due to effective implementation of universal salt iodization (USI) programs. The most devastating—but often the least visible—effect of IDD is damage to the central nervous system, causing a spectrum of impairment from mild loss of intelligence quotient (IQ), to severe, irreversible brain damage called neurological cretinism.