Question

Michelle is an active 50-year old women who enjoys cycling and running. Both of her parents suffered from high blood pressure and heart disease, so she recently became a vegan and also avoids salt in her diet. She does not eat packaged food and prefers to prepare all of her meals at home. Over the past month she has become very tired and has noticed a bulge in the middle of her neck. What vitamin/mineral is she deficient in? What hormone and what gland are affected by this disorder?

Answer 1

Michelle is suffered from Goiter, a disease which is caused by iodine deficiency. Michelle skipped the salt and non-veg items from her diet, that is the cause for her Iodine(I) level. Iodine enters the body through iodine-rich foods, including certain salts (“iodized salt”), eggs, sea vegetables and fish.

The thyroid gland produces two main hormones - thyroxine (T-4) and triiodothyronine (T-3). In case of Iodine deficiency, the T-3 and T-4 hormones are underactive. That causes Goiter.

Abnormal enlargement of the Thyroid Gland( below Adam's apple) occurred due to Goiter.