I apologize for the incomplete comment regarding cretinism. I assumed it would be moderated. I am aware of the need for iodine in thyroid hormone synthesis, and that iodine deficiency is a major contributor to endemic cretinism. I guess my thought was that thyroid hormone deficiency is the "cause" of cretinism - and - the deficiency may indeed result from lack of iodine. Sorry. Dan
Dan you are more factually correct, I suppose. My only quibble is that at the turn of the century, my recollection is most hypothyroidism was caused by iodine deficiency, so the proximate cause is always hypothyroidism and the ultimate cause often iodine deficiency. How many babies have hypothyroidism nowadays? I know it is routinely checked… I don't know how often it comes up positive.
Dan, Weird how your second comment didn't come through before my reply to the first, though the time was 17 minutes earlier. I think you have a good point and if I get a moment, I'll go back and edit it so as to be more clear.
Really enjoyed the dopamine primer. Correction on one statement, cretinism is caused by thyroid hormone deficiency, not by iodine deficiency.
ReplyDeleteDan
I apologize for the incomplete comment regarding cretinism. I assumed it would be moderated. I am aware of the need for iodine in thyroid hormone synthesis, and that iodine deficiency is a major contributor to endemic cretinism. I guess my thought was that thyroid hormone deficiency is the "cause" of cretinism - and - the deficiency may indeed result from lack of iodine. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteDan
Dan you are more factually correct, I suppose. My only quibble is that at the turn of the century, my recollection is most hypothyroidism was caused by iodine deficiency, so the proximate cause is always hypothyroidism and the ultimate cause often iodine deficiency. How many babies have hypothyroidism nowadays? I know it is routinely checked… I don't know how often it comes up positive.
ReplyDeleteDan, Weird how your second comment didn't come through before my reply to the first, though the time was 17 minutes earlier. I think you have a good point and if I get a moment, I'll go back and edit it so as to be more clear.
ReplyDelete