Iodine is required for the production of thyroid
hormones, which are
necessary for normal brain development and cognition
and a chemical element necessary for normal growth and
development of the brain and body. Either low or high intake may lead to
thyroid
disease. Because the body does not make it, it
must be obtained from the diet -- from sources like seafood, dairy products,
plants grown in iodine-rich soil and iodized table salt.
As a result of collaborative efforts with international
organizations and the salt industry, many developing and developed countries
practice universal salt iodization (USI) or have mandatory salt fortification
programs. As a consequence, the prevalence of iodine deficiency decreased
dramatically.
Iodized salt, seaweed, seafood and saltwater fish are good sources of iodine.
Radiation exposure
Some experts think that taking iodine supplements could reduce the risk for
thyroid cancer from exposure to radiation. I still need to study this topic more
to know if it is accurate.
Information
In normal adults, the daily production rate of
the two biologically active thyroid hormones, tetraiodothyronine (which is
better known as thyroxine and has four iodine atoms) and triiodothyronine
(which has three), is approximately 100 µg and 30 µg, respectively. All of
the thyroxine, but only about 20 percent of the triiodothyronine, is
produced by the thyroid gland; the remainder of the triiodothyronine is
produced through the extrathyroidal deiodination of thyroxine. A minimum
of approximately 70 µg of iodine is therefore needed to produce these two
hormones in the thyroid gland each day. A seaweed called
bladder wrack
has a high content of iodine.
Since the introduction of iodized salt, supplements are
unnecessary and not recommended for most people. For strict vegetarians who
avoid salt and sea vegetables, 50 to 150 mcg per day is commonly supplemented.
This amount is adequate to prevent deficiency and higher amounts are not
necessary.
What
if any benefits are there in taking a Kelp iodine 225 mcg supplement daily?
I do not see any benefit in taking it
unless there is clear deficiency.
Iodine deficiency, lack of or shortage
Humans obtain iodine from their diets. The amount in food or
water depends upon the amount of iodine in the local soil. Deficiency is not common in the United States, but can occur. Inadequate intake of dietary iodine can lead to an enlarged thyroid gland
(goiter) or other iodine deficiency disorders, the world's
leading cause of mental retardation in children. There are several countries
where iodine deficiency is still a significant problem. For instance, China
still has a way to go to eradicate it because of difficulties in
fortifying salt in some remote regions. In these villages, iodine deficiency can
cause neck goiters and mental retardation; more than 700 million Chinese live in
iodine-deficient regions.
Endemic goiter and cretinism associated with
iodine deficiency have been depicted in paintings and statues since ancient
times. Only during the past three decades, however, have these
disorders been recognized as the leading cause worldwide of intellectual
impairment. Development of the central nervous system for normal intellectual
functioning depends on an adequate supply of thyroid hormones which require
iodine for biosynthesis.
It is estimated that more than 2 billion people worldwide have
insufficient iodine intake, with those in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa
particularly affected. Iodine deficiency leads to inadequate production of
thyroid hormone. In nearly all countries, the best strategy to
control iodine deficiency is iodisation of salt. When iodisation of salt is not
possible, iodine supplements can be given to susceptible groups. Introduction of
iodised salt to such regions might transiently
increase the proportion of thyroid disorders, but overall the small risks of
iodine excess are outweighed by the significant risks of iodine deficiency.
What is your position of supplemental Iodine / Iodide
such as Lugol's solution or Iodoral.
A. Since iodine deficiency is not common, there is no point in
supplementing with these products unless there is a proven deficiency on lab
tests. There should be a good reason for a doctor to check levels and this
should not be done routinely unless a medical reason makes the doctor think
there could be low levels.
Iodine and its role in cancer and tumors
Send to Thyroid. 2001. Iodine and cancer. Among thyroid carcinomas the most
frequent types are the differentiated forms (follicular, papillary or mixed
papillary-follicular), whereas anaplastic thyroid carcinoma and medullary
thyroid carcinomas are rare. Animal experiments have demonstrated a clear
increase in incidence of thyroid epithelial cell carcinomas after prolonged
iodine deficiency leading to a situation of the thyroid gland by thyrotropin and
possibly other growth factors. However, the overall incidence of differentiated
thyroid carcinoma is generally not considered to be influenced by the iodine
intake of a population, whereas the distribution of the types of thyroid
carcinoma seems to be related to the intake of iodine, with fewer of the more
aggressive follicular and anaplastic carcinomas and more papillary carcinomas in
iodine rich areas. The incidence of other cancers, such as breast cancer,
may be influenced by the iodine intake, but too few studies are available at
present. The overall incidence for a relationship between iodine and cancer is
poor and future studies are warranted.
Testing for blood levels
I am wondering about Iodine and how important it is in our
diets why is it that most doctors do not test or check to see if we are lacking
this important element?
There are hundreds and thousands of important vitamins, minerals,
amino acids, fatty acids, nutrients, and food substances that are important for
health and it is not necessary to check levels of them all and it is impractical
and too expensive. Rather, one should look at how the person is doing overall,
any symptoms or signs that indicate disease. Most people do not have an iodine
deficiency unless their diet is very restricted. Those living in the United
States, Canada, Japan, and certain other countries eat more iodine than is
really necessary. The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council
has recommended a daily intake of 150 to 300 micrograms of iodine per day. If
you live in the United States your daily dietary iodine intake is probably
between 200 and 700 micrograms per day, because extra iodine has been added to
bread, milk, salt, and other foods that you consume frequently. Low iodine levels can be
suspected if there is low thyroid function. Deficiency in this mineral is common
in many rural areas in the world leading to goiters.
Children with mild deficiency may
benefit from supplementation
Iodine supplements may improve mental function in children with even mild
deficiencies in the nutrient. Severe iodine deficiency has long been known to
cause mental impairment, stunted growth and other problems in children. Such
deficiency remains a major problem in parts of the world -- typically where the
soil is iodine-poor, people eat little seafood and salt is not iodized. But
there has also been a recent re-emergence of milder iodine deficiency in certain
countries, including New Zealand and Australia -- thought to be due to factors
like declining use of iodized salt and changes in dairy-product manufacturing
that have lowered iodine levels. Researchers in New Zealand randomly assigned
184 mildly iodine-deficient children to take either a tablet containing 150
micrograms of iodine or a placebo pill every day for 28 weeks. At the end of the
study, children in iodine group showed an overall improvement on two standard
cognitive tests that gauge problem-solving abilities. And they outperformed
children who received the placebo. Iodine is necessary for the body to produce
thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism. The traditional view was that since
these hormone levels are still within normal range when a person is mildly
iodine deficient, the lack of iodine may have no health effects. American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition, October 2009.
Consequences of iodine fortification
In Denmark, introduction of iodine-fortified salt resulted in an initial rise,
then a subsequent fall, in cases of overactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism.
Before implementing a nationwide program to distribute iodine-fortified salt,
Denmark was an area of mild to moderate iodine deficiency, Dr. Charlotte
Cerqueira, from Glostrup University Hospital, measured dispensing of antithyroid
medication before and after Denmark started an iodine-fortification program. Of
5 million Danes, 4,281 started using antithyroid medication in 1997. The
researchers measured antithyroid medication use again after the program began
voluntarily in 1998, and became mandatory in 2000.In the region of the country
with moderate iodine deficiency, the number of antithyroid medication users
increased 46 percent during the 4 years after fortification. This was most
common among residents younger than 40 years and older than 75 years. In the
mildly-deficient region of Denmark, antithyroid use increased by 18 percent
during the first 4 years, and only among residents 59 years of age and younger.
After 6 years of iodine fortification, the rates of antithyroid use began to
decline to the level they were prior to the start of fortification. Transient
iodine-induced hyperthyroidism has been reported in the early phases of almost
all iodine fortification programs, says Dr. Charlotte Cerqueira. Journal of
Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, July 2009.
Excess, side effects, risk,
danger
Side effects with excess dosages could include dizziness, drowsiness,
headache, muscle aches, gastrointestinal discomfort, changes in bowel habits,
nausea, joint pains, breathing trouble, swelling of the face, swelling of the
throat, metallic taste, burning mouth, sore teeth and gums and thyroid
dysfunction.
Is it true that too much supplemental iodine is lethal? I hear a lot that too
much of a supplement can harm or even kill you, I was wondering if there are any
"safe" iodine supplements, My wife I believe has a severe iodine deficiency so
I'm going to get her blood checked. But if it is severe I'm just wondering how
much needs to get through her system without being broken down by stomach acids
to do any good?
This mineral is usually well absorbed. In rare cases excess
use for prolonged periods or purposeful overdose may cause death but this is
very rare.
Iodine levels and lifespan, longevity
Thyroid. 2018. Urinary Iodine Concentrations and Mortality Among U.S. Adults.
Global salt iodization to overcome iodine deficiency has been successful, but
have led to excessive iodine consumption in some populations, thereby increasing
the risks of iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction, as well as the comorbidities
and mortality associated with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Higher
all-cause mortality among those with excess iodine intake, compared with
individuals with adequate iodine intake, highlights the importance of monitoring
population iodine status.
Radioactive Iodine treatment
The main advantage of radioactive Iodine treatment for hyperthyroidism is
that it tends to have a much higher success rate than medications. Depending on
the dose of radioactive iodine chosen, and the disease under treatment (Grave's
versus toxic goitre, versus hot nodule etc), success rate in achieving
definitive resolution of the hyperthyroidism may vary from 75-100%.
Radioactive Iodine side effect
A major expected side effect of radioactive
iodine in patients with Graves disease is the development of life long
hypothyroidism requiring daily treatment with
thyroid hormone.
Occasionally, some patients may require more than one radioactive treatment,
depending on the type of disease present, the size of the thyroid, and the
initial dose administered. Many patients are initially unhappy at the thought of
having to take a thyroid hormone pill for the rest of their lives. Nevertheless,
as thyroid hormone is safe, inexpensive, and easy to take, and is identical to
the thyroid hormone normally made by our own thyroid, this therapy is generally
extremely safe and very well tolerated by the vast majority of patients.
The long-term risk of developing a tumor in the thyroid gland or
autoimmune thyroiditis, a progressive inflammatory disease of the thyroid, is
increased after exposure to radioactive iodine therapy in childhood.
Tincture of iodine benefit
Tincture of iodine (3% elemental iodine in water/ethanol base) is an
essential component of any emergency survival kit, used both to disinfect wounds
and to sanitize surface water for drinking (3 drops per liter, let stand for 30
minutes).
Food containing iodine - Low Diet - Source
Iodine is found in seafood, iodised salt, dairy foods, and some vegetables. Iodine is
found in foods as iodide. Our bodies need it to make thyroid hormones. The two
main thyroid hormones, thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine, are synthesized from the
amino acid, tyrosine, and from iodide.
Use
Iodine compounds are important in organic chemistry and very useful in
medicine. The artificial radioisotope 131I, with a half-life of 8 days, has been
used in treating the thyroid gland. The most common compounds are the iodides of
sodium and potassium (KI) and the iodates (KIO3). Iodides, and thyroxin which
contains iodine, are used internally in medicine, and as a solution of KI and
iodine in alcohol is used for external wounds.
Potassium iodide finds
use in photography.
Pregnancy
and neonatal period requirement
The requirement for iodine by the mother during pregnancy is 250-300 microg per
day. During lactation the iodine requirement is 225-350 micrograms. During the
neonatal period the requirement of the infant is 90 microg a day. Pregnant women
and young infants, but especially the second group, are more sensitive to the
effects of an iodine deficiency than the general population because their serum
thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine are increased and decreased,
respectively, for degrees of iodine deficiency that do not seem to affect
thyroid function in the general population.
Allergy - Allergic Reaction
The term iodine allergy is misleading since iodine is an essential trace
element present throughout the body. No one is allergic to iodine. Patients who
report iodine allergy usually have had either a prior contrast reaction or a
shellfish allergy.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Like most autoimmune diseases of humans,
Hashimoto's
thyroiditis results from the combination of a genetic predisposition and an
environmental trigger. A body of clinical and epidemiologic evidence points to
excessive ingestion of iodine as an environmental agent. In genetically
determined thyroiditis in animals, iodine enrichment has been shown to increase
the incidence and severity of disease.
China
There has been an increase in the prevalence of overt hypothyroidism,
subclinical hypothyroidism, and autoimmune thyroiditis with increasing iodine
intake in China.
Questions and reports, testimonials
What type of iodine treatment is best for hypothyroidism? tablet,
solution?
Iodine deficiency disorder is
rare in industrialized countries due to enrichment of table salt and cattle feed. Iodine deficiency is common in developing countries. Hypothyroidism
in Western countries is most likely not due to low iodine intake or iodine
deficiency. Iodized salt provides several hundred micrograms per teaspoon. The
minimal recommended daily allowance (RDA) for iodine is 80 to 100 micrograms,
with the average American diet containing between 200 and 700 micrograms.
I have noticed that the baby food sold at the
health food stores (Whole Foods) contains no salt, and therefore, I assume, no
Iodine. How do you suggest my 15month old grandson obtain sufficient Iodine in
his diet if I make his baby food?
I am not an expert in the topic of iodine requirement of babies
or infants. Iodine is found in small amounts in various foods, including milk,
grains, meat, and seafood. Iodine deficiency is rare in the United States.
However, if you wish, you could add a small amount of iodized salt to the baby's
food a couple of times a week.
What are your thoughts about Ioderal? I might be
clinically hypothyroid, but labs within normal range, a complicated and loaded
issue for internists.
It is not common to be iodine deficient in the USA, therefore
there should be a very clear reason to taken iodine tablets. I am not
specifically familiar with Ioderal products.
I'm interested in taking an iodine supplement 225
mcg for my enlarged thyroid. is this safe?
This is a decision you and your doctor need to make since it
depends on your overall health, other supplements and medications you are
taking, your diet, blood studies and thyroid hormone levels, and other factors.
My daughter and I have had our thyroids removed years ago,
both for different reasons. My alternative Dr. put me on 12.5 mg. of iodine
complex. My armour thyroid medication is working more efficiently so that I can
take less medication. My daughter's thyroid removal was due to an auto-immune
problem. She is taking Synthroid from a different Dr.. Could iodine work as well
for her?
I can't see how iodine pills can have an influence when a thyroid
gland is not present.
I was following the iodine testicle painting protocol for about 4 days and my throat swelled up and started hurting (swollen glands), I stopped taking it about 7 days ago but the swollen throat and pain have not gone away.
I purchased this product because I feel tired and my blood work is good according to my test. I asked my doctor to test me for my my thyroid a few years back and she told me it was a little off not to worry. I started walking for exercise and I got stuck at 220 pounds and the scale would not move and I have a healthy menu. I gained a hundred , 24 pounds in the last 18 years and I want to just get rid of it .Again I was stuck and walking my self to death and the scale just moves back and forward .While walking I just got this strong feeling my thyroid is off more than what I was told a few years back. I started taking this product last week two pills a day. In the first week my scale finally moved in the right direction 3 pounds less and I have energy. I wake up with energy to hit the exercise track daily and I feel so much better. I feel more alert like my brain woke up from sleeping in a fog and I sleep less with more energy. I love this product and I cant wait to see the results after 30 days. My weight started out at 244 and half before I got stuck at 220 but the scale just stopped moving before I ordered the Iodine sea kelp.
Other products online
buy Iodine supplement 150 mcg
pill, from sea kelp.
Sea kelp is a natural food source of
essential iodine, which is one of the few minerals
designated as essential. Some individuals on a low salt diet may not be
getting enough of this important mineral from their food. One tablet per day provides 150 mcg. of
iodine. This is equivalent to 100% of the Daily Value for adults and children
over the age of 12.
Life Extension, Sea-Iodine, 1000 mcg, 60 Veggie Caps
Buy Iodine 1000 mcg or 1 mg
Supplement Facts Life Extension, Sea-Iodine, 1000 mcg, 60 Veggie Caps | ||
Serving Size: 1 Vegetarian Capsule | ||
|
Amount Per Serving | %Daily Value |
Iodine (from Sea-Iodine Complex Blend (organic kelp and bladderwrack extracts, potassium iodide)] |
Buy Iodine supplement