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Crohn
Perchlorate Controversy Calls for Improving Iodine NutritionCrohn DM Vegetarian Journal 2006 Issue 2
"Depending on the amount ingested, perchlorate may affect the body in a number of ways, but it is normally expected to interfere with the thyroid first. The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck. It uses iodine to produce the only biologically active compounds in the body that contain iodine, the hormones T3 and T4. To produce these hormones, the thyroid must collect and concentrate iodine from the bloodstream. When perchlorate is present, the thyroid will collect both iodine and perchlorate so that the amount of iodine that can be concentrated is reduced. Perchlorate is seldom a significant problem for people with adequate iodine in their diets because the thyroid still absorbs enough to meet the body's hormone production needs. If a person is already iodine deficient, however, perchlorate can further impair their ability to produce T3 and T4."
"To be fair, perchlorate is not the only chemical that interferes with the thyroid's iodide collection. At least two other compounds common in the American diet, nitrate and thiocyanate, can also interfere with iodine collection. Nitrate, the most widely occurring groundwater pollutant, results from over-fertilization with nitrogen fertilizer or manures. Nitrate concentrations are regulated in drinking water because it can contribute to a type of anemia in infants known as 'blue baby syndrome,' not because of its possible effect on thyroid function. Thiocyanate occurs naturally in certain vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, turnips, and Brussels sprouts. Although perchlorate interferes more strongly with thyroid function than thiocyanate or nitrate, these last two compounds are more common in most people's diets."
"Perchlorate is, therefore, a concern because it intensifies problems resulting from iodine deficiency. Iodine deficiency is already the world's leading cause of avoidable intellectual impairment. The damage that this deficiency precipitates is permanent, but most damage is mild to moderate. Nonetheless, damage can be severe, depending on the timing and intensity of the deficiency. Typical iodine consumption in the United States has fallen significantly since the early 1970s, leading to concerns that iodine deficiency problems in the public at large, and particularly in nursing mothers, may be increasing. This decrease in iodine intake in the United States is likely associated with changes in the manufacturing of bread and milk that have lowered their iodine contents. In addition, processed foods, which have become more popular, frequently are manufactured with non-iodized salts."
"Perchlorate should interest Journal readers because risk assessments suggest that the babies of pregnant and nursing vegan mothers are, theoretically, at greatest risk for perchlorate toxicity. Vegans are perceived to be at greater risk than the general public, including lacto-vegetarians, because plant-based diets are generally relatively low in iodine. Evidence for this comes from knowledge of the iodine content of different foods rather than from direct measurements of iodine levels in vegans. The iodine content of most fruits, nuts, and vegetables is low but can vary depending on soil iodine content, irrigation, and fertilization practices."
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