IODINE REPLENISHMENT THERAPY FOR WOMEN: A REVIEW ON TRANSDERMAL IODINE PATCHES

Abstract

Iodine deficiency is today’s time the leading cause of brain damage not just in India but around the globe, IDD are along with a host of other health complications. Most Iodine Deficiency Disorders are often both invisible and irreversible but at the same time, these are largely preventable. Indian, population is at a greater risk as the soil covering the Indian landmass lacks iodine, therefore the crops grown are also devoid of this element. Iodine-fortified salt mitigates the risk however this cannot compensate for the daily requirement of iodine in women, especially in the vulnerable rural areas of India. Transdermal drug delivery can be simply described as the method of transporting drug molecules across the skin via preformulated patches. These patches stick to the surface of the skin which absorbs the drug molecule and passes it to the bloodstream for further transport. The research aims to develop an alternative means for women in rural India to be equipped with the daily dose required of Iodine by applying a self-adhesive transdermal patch in the form of bindis with an iodine solution. Bindis are traditionally applied on the forehead by women in India. The bindis will work efficiently as a transdermal patch.