Iodine deficiency French, the term "crétin des Alpes" also became current, since the condition was observed in remote valleys of the Alps in particular. The word "cretin" appeared in English in 1779. While reporting recent progress towards overcoming iodine-deficiency disorders worldwide, "The Lancet" noted: "According to World Health Organization, in 2007, nearly 2 billion individuals had insufficient iodine intake, a third being of school age." A conclusion was made that the single most preventable cause of intellectual disability is that of iodine deficiency. There is preliminary evidence that iodine deficiency enhances the sensitivity of breast tissue to estrogen. In rats treated with
Pyruvate carboxylase deficiency Pyruvate carboxylase deficiency Pyruvate carboxylase deficiency is an inherited disorder that causes lactic acid to accumulate in the blood. High levels of these substances can damage the body's organs and tissues, particularly in the nervous system. Pyruvate carboxylase deficiency is a rare condition, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 250,000 births worldwide. Type A of the disease appears to be much more common in some Algonkian Indian tribes in eastern Canada, while the type B disease is more present in European populations. Mutations in the "PC" gene cause pyruvate carboxylase deficiency. The "PC" gene provides instructions for making an