What is goiter?

Goiter is what we call thyroid hypertrophy. The causes of goiter include iodine deficiency or goiter caused by high iodine. At the same time, congenital defects in thyroid hormone synthesis can also cause goiter.

1. Thyroid tissue has a strong ability to concentrate iodine . The human thyroid gland needs 60-80ug of iodine every day to produce physiologically active thyroid hormones. In the body, there is a mutually dependent and mutually restrictive feedback relationship between the thyroid hormone secreted by the thyroid gland and the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) secreted by the pituitary gland. When iodine is deficient, thyroid cells cannot synthesize enough thyroid hormone, the concentration of thyroid hormone in the blood decreases, the inhibitory effect of thyroid hormone on pituitary secretion (TSH) weakens, the secretion of pituitary TSH increases, and the TSH level in the blood increases, causing thyroid hypertrophy and hyperplasia.

2. Iodine deficiency and high iodine cause goiter : Iodine deficiency is the main cause of endemic goiter, which is more common in inland and mountainous areas far away from the ocean. Puberty, pregnancy, lactation, menopause, mental stimulation, trauma, etc.;

3. Congenital thyroid hormone synthesis defect: the synthesis of thyroid hormone requires the catalytic action of multiple special enzymes;

4. Substances that cause goiter : Some people have found that some foods may be related to the enlargement of the thyroid gland. Eating large amounts of cabbage for a long time can cause goiter. Some studies have found that organic cyanide in cabbage can affect the oxidation of iodide, thereby affecting the synthesis of thyroid hormones and causing compensatory enlargement of the thyroid gland. Cassava can also cause goiter because it contains cyanide sugar, which produces thiocyanate after consumption, preventing the thyroid gland from absorbing iodine.