What is iodine?
Also called iodide, iodine is a type of mineral that is
naturally found in the earth’s soil and ocean waters. Many salt water and
plant-based foods contain iodine, and this mineral is
most-widely available in iodized salt.
It is important to get enough iodine in the diet. It regulates
hormones, fetal development, and more.
If your iodine levels are low, your doctor might recommend
supplementation. You should not take supplements without checking with your
doctor first.
Read on to learn more about the uses and side effects of iodine,
plus recommended daily amounts by age.
11
uses of iodine
Iodine is considered an
essential mineral for our bodies. It is particularly important during
pregnancy, and exposure in the womb may even help prevent certain health
conditions later in life.
The following is a list of
some of the most important uses and how they benefit the body.
1. Promoting thyroid health
Iodine plays a vital role in
thyroid health. Your thyroid gland, which is located at the base of the
front of your neck, helps regulate hormone production. These hormones control
your metabolism, heart health, and more.
To make thyroid hormones,
your thyroid takes up iodine in small amounts. Without iodine, thyroid hormone
production can decrease. A “low” or underactive thyroid gland can lead to a
condition called hypothyroidism.
Given the wide availability
of iodine in western diets, thyroid health is not typically impacted by low
iodine levels in the United States.
You can get enough iodine
from your diet by eating dairy products, fortified foods, and salt water fish.
Iodine is also available in plant foods that grow in naturally iodine-rich
soil. You also can get the mineral by seasoning your food with iodized salt.
While iodine promotes overall
thyroid health, too much iodine can have a negative effect on the thyroid
gland. That is why you should not take iodine supplements without your doctor’s
recommendation.
2. Reducing risk for some goiters
A goiter is
an enlarged thyroid gland. Your thyroid may become enlarged as a result from
either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is an overactive
thyroid gland.
Non-cancerous thyroid nodules (cysts) can also cause thyroid
gland enlargement.
Sometimes a goiter develops
as a direct response to iodine deficiency. This is the most common cause of goiter worldwide, though
it’s not as common a cause in the United States and other countries with access
to iodine-rich foods.
Iodine-induced goiters may be
reversed by adding iodine-rich foods or supplements in the diet.
3. Managing overactive thyroid gland
Your doctor may recommend a
special type of iodine called radioactive iodine to treat an overactive thyroid
gland. Also called radioiodine, this medication is taken by mouth. It is used
to destroy extra thyroid cells to help reduce excessive amounts of thyroid
hormone.
The risk with radioactive
iodine is that it can destroy too many thyroid cells. This can decrease the
amount of hormone production, leading to hypothyroidism. For this reason,
radioactive iodine is usually only recommended after anti-thyroid drugs have
failed.
Radioactive iodine is not the
same thing as iodine supplements. You should never take iodine supplements for
hyperthyroidism.
4. Treating thyroid cancer
Radioiodine may also be a
possible treatment option for thyroid cancer. It works in much the same way as hyperthyroid treatment.
When you take radioactive
iodine orally, the medication destroys thyroid cells, including cancerous ones.
It may be used as a treatment following thyroid surgery to make sure all
cancerous cells have been removed from the body.
According to the American Cancer
Society, radioactive
iodine treatments significantly improve the chances of survival for people with
thyroid cancer.
5. Neurodevelopment during pregnancy
You need more iodine in
pregnancy. That is because iodine intake during pregnancy is linked to brain
development in fetuses. One reviewTrusted
Source found
that babies whose birth mothers had an iodine deficiency during pregnancy were
more likely to grow up with lower IQ’s and other intellectual delays.
The recommended daily intakeTrusted Source of iodine during pregnancy is 220 mcg. By
comparison, the recommended amount in non-pregnant adults is 150 mcg a day.
If you are pregnant, ask your
doctor about iodine supplementation, especially if your prenatal vitamin does
not have iodine (many do not). Iodine supplements may also be necessary if you
are deficient in the mineral.
You will also need to
continue monitoring your iodine intake if you are breastfeeding. The
recommended daily amount of iodine while nursing is 290 mcg. That is because
the iodine you take up from diet and supplementation is transferred via breast
milk to your nursing infant. This is a crucial brain developmental period, so
infants need 110 mcg per day until they have reached
6 months of ageTrusted Source.
6. Improving cognitive function
The same neurological
benefits of iodine during pregnancy may extend to healthy brain function during
childhood. This also includes a reduced riskTrusted
Source of
intellectual disability.
It is likely your child gets
all the iodine they need through their diet, but if you have any questions
about their iodine intake, talk to their pediatrician.
7. Improving birth weight
As with brain development,
iodine during pregnancy is associated with a healthy birth weight. One studyTrusted
Source of
pregnant women with goiters found that 400 mg of iodine taken daily for six to
eight weeks was helpful in correcting goiters related to iodine deficiency. In
turn, there was an overall improvement in birth weight in newborns.
While iodine intake can
impact a baby’s birth weight and overall development, it is important to note
that the above study focused on women in developing areas who were already
deficient in iron.
Unless your doctor has
determined you are iodine deficient, taking supplements are not likely to
impact your baby’s weight at birth. In fact, taking iodine unnecessarily can
cause health issues.
8. May help treat fibrocystic breast disease
It is possible that iodine
supplements or medications can help treat fibrocystic breast disease. This non-cancerous condition is most
common in women of reproductive age, and it can cause painful breast lumps.
Although there is some
promise that iodine might help with fibrocystic breast cysts, you should not
attempt self-treatment. Only take iodine for this condition if your doctor
specifically recommends it. Otherwise, you could be at risk of side effects
from iodine toxicity.
9. Disinfecting water
Iodine is just one method of
water disinfection. This may be especially helpful if you do not have access to
potable water due to traveling or effects from a natural disaster.
Two percent liquid iodine
tincture may be added to water in five-drop increments
per one quart of clear water. If the water is cloudy, add ten drops per quart.
Iodine tablets may also be
used, but the instructions can vary by manufacturer.
Despite the role iodine can
play in disinfecting drinking water, there is also some concerns that it can
increase total iodine intake in humans and lead to adverse health effects.
Total iodine intake should not exceed 2 mg per dayTrusted
Source.
10. Protection from nuclear fallout
In the case of nuclear
emergencies, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention recommends
the use of potassium iodide (KI) to protect the thyroid gland from radiation
injuries. These are available in tablet and liquid formulas.
While not completely
foolproof, the sooner KI is taken, the better the thyroid is thought to be
protected in the event of this kind of emergency.
There are serious risks
associated with KI, including gastrointestinal upset, inflammation, and
allergic reaction. You are also at increased risk for thyroid disease. Your
risk for complications is higher if you already have thyroid disease.
11. Treating infections
Iodine can be used topically
in a liquid form to help treat and prevent infections. It works by killing
bacteria in and around mild cuts and scrapes.
Topical iodine should not be
used on newborn babies. It should also not be used for deep cuts, animal bites,
or burns.
Follow directions on the
packaging for dosage information, and do not use for more than 10 days unless
directed by your doctor.
How much iodine do you
need?
To reduce our risk for iodine deficiency, the National Institutes of HealthTrusted Source (NIH) has the following recommendations for daily intake
based on age:
|
Age
|
Daily recommended amount in
micrograms (mcg)
|
|
birth–6 months
|
110 mcg
|
|
infants
between 7–12 months
|
130
mcg
|
|
children 1–8 years old
|
90 mcg
|
|
children
9–13 years old
|
120
mcg
|
|
adults and teens, 14 and older
|
150 mcg
|
|
pregnant
women
|
220
mcg
|
|
nursing women
|
290 mcg
|
Side effects of iodine
Possible side effects from
too much iodine include:
- nausea or vomiting
- diarrhea
- fever
- burning sensations in the throat and mouth
- stomach pain
In more severe cases, iodine toxicity may lead to coma.
You should not take iodine if
you have a thyroid condition, unless recommended by your doctor.
Young children and the
elderly are more prone to iodine side effects.
Iodine deficiency can only be diagnosed via urine
tests.
The symptoms of low iodine
levels are primarily detected through thyroid symptoms, such as:
- a visible goiter
- thyroid gland that’s painful or tender to the
touch
- breathing difficulties, especially when lying
down
- difficulty swallowing
- fatigue
- extreme feelings of coldness, despite normal
temperatures
- hair loss
- depression
- brain fog
- unintentional weight gain
Your doctor might recommend
iodine supplements if your levels are low. The only way to know for certain is
by checking your levels through a urine test. After that point, your doctor may
recommend a supplement.
Iodine is available in
stronger formulas through a prescription. However, these are used for serious
health conditions only. For example, your doctor may recommend
prescription-strength iodine if you have been exposed to radiation or have an
overactive thyroid gland.
If you suspect you need
iodine support, check with your doctor to see if you are a candidate.
The Role of Iodine in Cardiovascular Health
Iodine and iodine-rich foods enjoy a long history as natural
therapies for hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Even when no overt
symptoms are evident, hypothyroidism can contribute to heart disease and
stroke, and it increases the risk of death from these conditions.
Thyroid dysfunction creates unfavorable disturbances in lipid
profiles, elevating low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol levels
and raising the risk of atherosclerosis. Hypothyroidism also weakens the
heart muscle, causing it to “squeeze” less firmly with each contraction; it can
cause cardiac arrhythmias as well.
These effects may not be evident at rest but become important
during moderate exercise. Low thyroid
function is also associated with higher waist-to-hip ratios, an obesity-related
risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Restoring normal thyroid function helps reverse multiple
cardiovascular risk factors, most notably adverse lipid profiles. Yet
mainstream medicine has traditionally used thyroid hormone treatment, which may
be dangerous if its over-drives an already weakened heart.
Iodine therapy shows promise in safely and effectively
modulating these health concerns.
The thyroid gland, breast tissue, and portions of the digestive
tract share similarities in that all of them contain a rich concentration of
iodine. Stomach lining cells in
particular concentrate iodine, capitalizing on its antioxidant effects.
This has led medical researchers to investigate whether iodine
deficiency plays a role in cancers of the digestive tract.
They found that people living in iodine-deficient areas of the
world are not only prone to iodine-deficiency goiters, but also have higher
rates of stomach cancers. Stomach
cancer patients in a landlocked area of Iran were 2.5 times as
likely to have severe iodine deficiency than control patients.
Gastric cancer is the most common cancer in parts of
northeastern Turkey where iodine deficiency is common, and iodine levels in
gastric cancer tissue were markedly lower than those in surrounding healthy
tissue.
Increased iodine intake has been strongly correlated with a reduction in stomach cancer
rates in recent years.
Iodine from the sea:
The most effective natural form
Earth's oceans are the main source of
iodine on the planet, and nowhere is iodine as highly concentrated as in
seaweed. Seaweeds such as kelp and bladderwrack can concentrate and storing
iodine at high level. Scientists
speculate that these primitive plants accumulate iodine to protect themselves
from oxidative stress in the open ocean. Humans can reap the benefits of this
natural process because the iodine in the seaweeds is in the most biologically
available form, making it ideal for consumption.
In Summary
Iodine is an essential
nutrient. People with access to iodized salt, seafood, and certain vegetables can
get enough iodine from their diet.
Iodine is critical to healthy thyroid
function. Its deficiency can cause weight gain, low energy, depression,
cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and a variety of cancers.
Yet rates of iodine deficiency have
reached epidemic levels, increasing fourfold over the past 40
years. A startling 74% of normal, “healthy” adults may no
longer be consuming enough.
Recent scientific analysis reveals that many
commercial table salt brands now contain inadequate amounts of iodine. Emerging
evidence points to the severe impact of low iodine on a wide range of health
issues, including increased risks of breast cancer and fibrocystic breast
diseases.
In some cases, you may need
iodine supplementation to help reduce your risk for iodine deficiency, or as a
treatment for certain medical conditions, such as underactive thyroid or
goiter.
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