Now, according to the World Health Organization, the single most important preventable cause of brain damage worldwide is iodine deficiency.

现在，根据世界卫生组织的数据，世界范围内最重要的可预防脑损伤原因是缺碘。

Iodine deficiency during pregnancy can result in miscarriage, stillbirth and stunted cognitive and physical development of the fetus.

怀孕期间缺碘会导致流产、死产以及胎儿认知和身体发育迟缓。

For growing children and pregnant women especially, iodine deficiency can have lasting consequences.

尤其是对成长中的儿童和孕妇来说，碘缺乏可能会带来持久的影响。

Overall, the WHO estimates that iodine deficiency—one of the world's most common nutritional gaps—affects around 2bn people worldwide.

总体而言，世界卫生组织估计，碘缺乏症——世界上最常见的营养缺乏症之一——影响着全球约 20 亿人。

In today's America changing diets, a lack of public-health education, and complacency mean that iodine deficiency may once again be on the rise.

当今美国饮食习惯的改变、公共卫生教育的缺乏以及自满情绪意味着碘缺乏症可能再次增加。