Iodine
Recall the discovery of iodine and its use as a means of preventing goiter, a gross enlargement of the thyroid gland in the neck. Iodine is essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormone, which regulates basal metabolism, growth, and development. Low iodine levels and consequently hypothyroidism has many signs and symptoms including fatigue, sensitivity to cold, constipation, weight gain, depression, and dry, itchy skin and paleness. The development of goiter may often be the most visible sign of chronic iodine deficiency, but the consequences of low levels of thyroid hormone can be severe during infancy, childhood, and adolescence as it affects all stages of growth and development. Thyroid hormone plays a major role in brain development and growth and fetuses and infants with severe iodine deficiency develop a condition known as cretinism, in which physical and neurological impairment can be severe. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates iodine deficiency affects over two billion people worldwide and it is the number-one cause of preventable brain damage worldwide.[1]
Dietary Reference Intakes for Iodine
| Age Group | RDA Males and Females mcg/day | UL |
| Infants (0–6 months) | 110* | |
| Infants (7–12 months) | 130* | |
| Children (1–3 years) | 90 | 200 |
| Children (4–8 years) | 120 | 300 |
| Children (9–13 years) | 150 | 600 |
| Adolescents (14–18 years) | 150 | 900 |
| Adults (> 19 years) | 150 | 1,100 |
| *denotes Adequate Intake |
Dietary Sources of Iodine
The mineral content of foods is greatly affected by the soil from which it grew, and thus geographic location is the primary determinant of the mineral content of foods. For instance, iodine comes mostly from seawater so the greater the distance from the sea the lesser the iodine content in the soil.
| Food | Serving | Iodine (mcg) | Percent Daily Value |
| Seaweed | 1 g. | 16 to 2,984 | 11 to 1,989 |
| Cod fish | 3 oz. | 99 | 66 |
| Yogurt, low fat | 8 oz. | 75 | 50 |
| Iodized salt | 1.5 g. | 71 | 47 |
| Milk, reduced fat | 8 oz. | 56 | 37 |
| Ice cream, chocolate | ½ c. | 30 | 20 |
| Egg | 1 large | 24 | 16 |
| Tuna, canned | 3 oz. | 17 | 11 |
| Prunes, dried | 5 prunes | 13 | 9 |
| Banana | 1 medium | 3 | 2 |
Chapter Attribution
Chapter 12.5 in Human Nutrition in a Canadian Context by Karine Hamm published by BCcampus in 2021 under a CC BY License.
- World Health Organization. “Iodine Status Worldwide.” Accessed October 2, 2011. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2004/9241592001.pdf. ↵
- National Institute of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (2011). Health Professional Fact Sheet: Iodine. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/. ↵
- National Institute of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (2011). Health Professional Fact Sheet: Iodine. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/. ↵
