Thyroid hormones which causes the thyroid to enlarge (the resulting medical condition is called "endemic colloid goitre"; see goitre). This has the effect of increasing the thyroid's ability to trap more iodide, compensating for the iodine deficiency and allowing it to produce adequate amounts of thyroid hormone. Most of the thyroid hormone circulating in the blood is bound to "transport protein"s. Only a very small fraction of the circulating hormone is free (unbound) and biologically active, hence measuring concentrations of free thyroid hormones is of great diagnostic value. When thyroid hormone is bound, it is not active, so the amount of free
Fluorine deficiency Fluorine deficiency Fluoride or fluorine deficiency is a disorder which may cause increased dental caries (or tooth decay, is the breakdown of dental tissues by the acidic products released by the "bacterial fermentation of dietary carbohydrates.") and possibly osteoporosis (a bone disorder which leads to a decrease in bone mass, and an increase in bone fragility), due to a lack of fluoride in the diet. In terms of dietary sources, fish and tea are considered natural sources of fluoride, as well as tap water that has been fluoridated. The extent to which the condition truly exists, and its relationship to