Iodine
Iodine is a trace element that is essential to humans for
normal health and growth. Iodine occurs naturally in nature,
though not widely — chiefly in seawater, certain seafoods,
minerals and soils. Although iodine is relatively rare, it
can be found concentrated in kelp and a few other plants.
Iodine is mainly extracted from mineral deposits, for example
from caliche — a hardened calcium carbonate-based
deposit mainly found in Chile between the Pacific ocean and
the Andes mountains.
Iodine is essential for thyroid gland hormone production
and normal metabolic functioning of all cells in the body.
Iodine is also used in pharmaceuticals and antiseptics. It
is widely used by surgeons as a skin disinfectant, for example,
before surgical procedures.
Iodine deficiency can lead to goiter development when the
amount of thyroid hormone in the blood is low. It can also
cause cretinism, a condition characterized by deaf-mutism,
slowed growth, hypothyroidism and mental deficits. Iodine
deficiency is the leading cause of preventable mental retardation
in lesser developed countries, occurring as a result of small
children and infants being made hypothyroid by lack of the
element.
The primary dietary source of iodine nowadays is iodized
salt (table or sea salt that has been fortified with iodine).
It can also be found in shellfish, seaweed kelp, sardines,
tuna, clams, cod, haddock, herring, lobster, and other seafood.
Sesame seeds, spinach, garlic, summer squash, turnip greens,
and lima beans are also good secondary sources of iodine.
Some researchers propose that higher levels of iodine are
required in our modern diet, due to the combined effects of
depletion of iodine in topsoils, lack of adequate seafood
and kelp in the diet, and higher levels of the toxic halides
fluoride and bromide as well as heavy metals in the environment
and food supply compared to the past. Because these toxic
halides have a similar chemical structure to iodine, they
can competitively inhibit iodine absorption in the body.
Health benefits of iodine
- Essential for normal physical and mental development
- Required for normal synthesis of thyroid hormone
- Required for normal metabolism of all cells in the body
- Prevents thyroid disorders
- Prevents cretinism
- Treats fibrocystic breasts
Recommendations
RDI/AI — 150 mcg per day
UL — 1100 mcg per day
How We Help
At DermaHarmony, our goals are to educate chronic skin care suffers about dermatology, share what contributes to health and wellness, and support our readers in any way we can. Our programs promote healthy skin with nutritional supplements, topical treatments and dietary guidance. Learn more about our programs or call us toll-free at 1-800-827-3730. Our Support Desk is open 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. ET, Monday-Friday.
Our skin assessment is designed to help us get a better understanding of your symptoms and to make diet and lifestyle recommendations for you. It is simple, free, takes just five minutes to complete. Take our skin assessment.
Principal Author: M. Ofiyeva
Date of Initial Publication: 07/05/2007
Article Last Updated: 08/26/2009
This website is protected by the copyright
laws of the United States of America.
Pursuant to Title 17, United States Code, the owner of this
content has filed a valid certificate of registration with
the United States Copyright Office.
The statements within this website have not
been evaluated by the FDA. Products are not intended to diagnose,
treat, prevent or cure any disease. If pregnant or nursing,
please consult a physician before taking any dietary supplement.
You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase products.
Individual results do vary.