Proper nutrition: iodized salt leads to thyroid cancer?

Experts for many years argued that iodized salt effectively compensates for iodine deficiency in the body. However, recently there have been many statements in support of the theory that it is the intake of iodized salt that is the main cause of thyroid cancer. This trend is best observed in China.

To all the wine - iodized salt?

The explanation of the fans of this product is that the reason for the increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer in China is an unhealthy lifestyle and backward technologies for early diagnosis of this problem.

Iodized salt became widely used as a natural substitute in China in 1995, and then an increase in patients with thyroid cancer began. This fact is alarming.

Opponents of iodized salt believe that it causes inevitable damage, and its production should be discontinued. They also argue that it is much more useful to use table salt without iodine. The latest statistics reported that the percentage of patients with thyroid cancer increased, making it the fastest-spread type of cancer in Beijing. Over the past 10 years, the average increase in such diagnoses has increased by about 225%.

Expert opinion

Thyroid cancer is the most frequent oncological pathology of adolescents (up to 10% of the population in the population). It occurs more often in girls. With medullary thyroid cancer, adolescents accounted for 5.1%.

Nevertheless, experts have not abandoned the idea that there is no real connection between thyroid diseases and iodized salt. They believe that it is safe and effective to prevent iodine deficiency.

Studies clearly show that there is no direct evidence that the consumption of iodized salt leads to thyroid cancer. The International Council also issued a statement that the use of iodized salt has no connection with thyroid cancer.

The development of cancer is associated with many causes, including environmental factors, radiation and genetic predisposition. Gu Zhong, a dietician at the Beijing Hospital, says that depriving iodized salt will reduce the risk of developing thyroid cancer. However, it can cause other serious health problems, such as deafness and even brain damage in children.

Norms of iodine intake

In China, the content of iodine in salt is 30 mg per kilogram. The average Chinese daily consumes less than 10 grams.

In the US, the recommended maximum daily dose of iodine is 300 micrograms and 1100 according to the World Health Organization. This means that consumption of no more than 300 micrograms of iodine per day is absolutely safe by all medical standards.

What is iodized salt?

Anyone can determine the presence of iodine in purchased salt. For this, it is necessary to apply salt on the starch solution in an acidic medium. Depending on the intensity of the appearance of blue color, you can judge the presence of iodine in the salt. It is calculated according to the following formula:

KIO3 + 5 KI + 3H2SO4 = 3I2 + 3 K2SO4 + 3H2O.

Conclusion

Salt is the most important of the elements that are extremely necessary for optimal life of the human body. It is involved in the transportation of oxygen and nutrients, as well as the movement of muscles (transmission of nerve impulses). Since the body can not itself produce sodium, the stocks of this substance should be constantly replenished.