Iodine is an important element for the body to synthesize thyroid hormones. More than 90% of the iodine taken in by the body is absorbed by the stomach and duodenum. With the extracellular fluid distributed in the body, it is removed by the thyroid and kidneys. Iodine is closely related to human health. It plays an important role in maintaining the normal growth and development of the human body, too much or too little will have an adverse effect on the body. Iodine intake is closely related to thyroid diseases, that is, iodine deficiency and iodine excess are closely related to thyroid diseases. Both iodine deficiency and iodine excess can increase the incidence of thyroid diseases.

    The hazards of iodine deficiency include endemic goiter, endemic cretinism, endemic subclinical cretinism (abbreviated as subclinical cretin), fetal miscarriage, premature delivery, stillbirth, and congenital malformations. The hazards of excess iodine include endemic goiter, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and subclinical hypothyroidism.

    The degree of iodine deficiency in pregnant women has a certain relationship with the pregnancy period. The iodine deficiency rate in the first trimester is 21.3%; the second trimester is 19.3%; the third trimester is 10.3%. The IQ of children with iodine supplementation in the early embryonic stage is significantly higher than the IQ of iodine supplementation in the later stage of the embryo. Iodine supplementation in the 5th month of pregnancy can hardly prevent the occurrence of mental retardation, which illustrates the importance of strengthening early pregnancy health care and the importance of carrying out iodine detection in pregnant women. 

   Why should serum iodine be tested?

   Iodine is metabolized in the human body every day. When iodine intake is stopped, the iodine stored in the body can only be maintained for 2-3 months. By monitoring the relevant metabolic indicators of iodine in biological samples, not only can we understand the status of iodine nutrition and metabolism in the human body, but also provide a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases, which is conducive to early prevention and reduction of the harm of thyroid diseases.

    Since the serum iodine concentration can truly reflect the body's iodine nutritional status, it is necessary to perform a serum iodine determination. Serum iodine will not change immediately due to changes in dietary factors, and can more accurately reflect the recent human iodine nutritional status.