Some may remember Iodine as a brown liquid that your mother used to disinfect your just scraped knee with.
But did you know a lot of us actually also need it as a supplement?
The mineral iodine is essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormones (thyroxine, triiodothyronine), which regulate various important physiological processes in the body. An iodine deficiency leads to delayed growth and development, hypothyroidism, goiter, and myxedema. In the case of a nuclear disaster, a very high (one-time) dose of iodine helps to block uptake of radioactive iodine by the thyroid. Iodine is probably also important for the health and function of mucous membranes of mouth and stomach, skin, breast tissue, salivary glands, and thymus. Iodine has a strong antimicrobial effect and is used for wound and water disinfection.
Sources of Iodine
Fish is a very good source of Iodine next to other special products from the sea such as crustaceans, seaweed and (sea) algae (such as kelp), sea salt, iodized bread, iodized breakfast cereals.
Signs of a possible shortage
Symptoms of decreased thyroid function and hypothyroidism / myxedema (fatigue, cold intolerance, decrease of metabolism, weight gain, difficulty thinking, slowness, bloated face, dry hair, hair loss, slow heartbeat, depression, edema, creaking voice, enlarged thyroid gland), disturbed growth and development, cretinism. An iodine deficiency is associated with a greater risk of thyroid cancer.
The iodine content in urine is normally 100-200 μg / L; in pregnant women the iodine level in urine should be 150-250 μg / L. In case of a mild iodine deficiency, the iodine content in urine is 50-100 μg / L (or <150 μg / L during pregnancy); for a more severe iodine deficiency, the iodine level in urine is <50 μg / L.
Indications
Low iodine intake with food, iodine deficiency (vegetarianism, little fish, seafood, iodized bread or salt food)
Hypothyroidism / myxedema (due to too low iodine intake)
Fibrocysteous mastopathy (benign lumps or cysts in breast tissue)
Nuclear disaster
Contraindications
Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto’s disease
Hypersensitivity to iodine
Use advice
General: the total daily intake of iodine from food and dietary supplements must be between the recommended minimum (AI, adequate intake) and maximum (UL, upper limit).
Iodine deficiency: 400-500 mcg / day
Fibrocysteus mastopathy: temporarily 1500-6000 mcg / day (maximum 6 months)
Nuclear disaster: single dose of 16 to 130 mg (special iodine pills)
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