IODINE DEFICIENCY AND ITS HEALTH IMPACT: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL AND INDIAN PERSPECTIVES

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) remain a significant public health challenge worldwide, despite decades of progress in prevention through universal salt iodization. Globally, inadequate iodine intake continues to affect populations in both developed and developing countries, contributing to a spectrum of health consequences, most notably goitre, hypothyroidism, impaired neurodevelopment, and increased risk of stillbirth and infant mortality. The most critical impact is on cognitive development, as iodine deficiency during pregnancy and early childhood can result in irreversible intellectual impairments, reducing educational attainment and economic productivity at a population level. International surveillance data indicate notable regional disparities: while high-income countries have largely eliminated IDD through salt iodization and monitoring programs, many low- and middle-income countries, particularly in parts of Africa and South Asia, still report insufficient iodine coverage. Therefore, it is crucial to address the challenges particularly the challenges for eliminating goitre and hypothyroidism but also to safeguarding cognitive development and population health, thereby enhancing human capital and long-term socioeconomic growth.