Iodine and TyrosineThyroid hormones are made from iodine and the amino acid tyrosine. A deficiency of iodine results in the development of a goiter, an enlarged thyroid gland. When the level of the iodine is low in the diet and blood, it causes the cells of the thyroid gland to become quite large due to pituitary stimulation by TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone).
Iodine deficiency reduced with the introduction of iodised salt, however now that many people avoid salt this is no longer a useful item to fortify with iodine. When iodine was added to table salt in Michigan in 1924 the rate of goiter was reduced by 47%.
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