Nutrition

Iodine

seaweed
salt
cod
yogurt

What is it?

Iodine is an essential mineral important for fetal and childhood development. Our body cannot make iodine, so we must source it through our diets.

Why is it important?

Iodine is a key element that helps regulate your thyroid, which is critical for your metabolism and maintaining a healthy weight. The thyroid hormone also helps regulate body temperature, central nervous system development and reproductive function.*

For children, iodine is essential for cognitive development and growth.

What myths are there?

More than 70 countries, including the United States, have iodized salt programs. This has led many to believe that we get a sufficient amount of iodine in our diets.

However, recent health trends to cook with sea salt and less consumption of processed foods suggests the general US population is consuming less iodine that previously.

What’s the risk of deficiency?

Iodine deficiency is relatively uncommon. However for households that do not use iodized salt and eat less processed foods, there is a risk of iodine insufficiency.

More than 30% of children worldwide have iodine insufficiency intake.

Given iodine’s importance to childhood development, we choose to include it in our vitamins.*

How much is recommended?

The FDA currently recommended daily intake (RDI) for iodine is 150 mcg for children age 4 and older. For children ages 3 and younger, the recommended daily intake is 68.5 mcg.

The Food and Nutrition Board at the US Institute of Medicine current recommended daily allowance (RDA) for iodine is as follows:

  • 0-6 months: 110 mcg (adequate intake)
  • 7-12 months: 130 mcg (adequate intake)
  • 1-3 years: 90 mcg
  • 4-8 years: 90 mcg
  • 9-13 years: 120 mcg
  • 14+ years: 150 mcg

Adequate Intake is used when evidence is insufficient to develop an RDA; intake at this level is assumed to ensure nutritional adequacy.

The World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD) recommend a slightly higher iodine intake for pregnant women of 250 mcg per day.

What foods are rich sources?

Seaweed is one of the best food sources for iodine. However, since most kids don’t eat seaweed daily, there are other options including dairy products and seafood.

  • 1g seaweed: 16-2,984 mcg
  • 3 oz cod (baked): 99 mcg
  • 1 cup yogurt: 75 mcg
  • 1/4 tsp iodized salt: 71 mcg
  • 1 cup milk: 56 mcg
  • 3 oz shrimp: 35 mcg

What’s the risk of getting too much?

Most people are unlikely to reach excessive iodine levels from food and supplements.

We recommend you seek the advice of your pediatrician or primary medical care provider before making changes to your child’s nutrient intake.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References

  • National Research Council, Committee to Assess the Health Implications of Perchlorate Ingestion. Health Implications of Perchlorate Ingestion. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2005.
  • Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2001.
  • World Health Organization. United Nations Children’s Fund & International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders. Assessment of iodine deficiency disorders and monitoring their elimination. 3rd ed. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO, 2007.
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 23.
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Code of Federal Regulations, CFR 21, Sections 184.1634 and 184.1265. Revised April 1, 2009.
  • WHO Secretariat, Andersson M, de Benoist B, Delange F, Zupan J. Prevention and control of iodine deficiency in pregnant and lactating women and in children less than 2-years-old: conclusions and recommendations of the Technical Consultation. Public Health Nutr. 2007 Dec;10(12A):1606-1611.
  • Caldwell KL, Miller GA, Wang RY, Jain RB, Jones RL. Iodine status of the U.S. population, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004. Thyroid. 2008 Nov;18(11):1207-1214.
  • Caldwell KL, Makhmudov A, Ely E, Jones RL, Wang RY. Iodine Status of the U.S.Population, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2006 and 2007-2008. Thyroid. 2011 Feb 16.
  • Perrine CG, Herrick K, Serdula MK, Sullivan KM. Some subgroups of reproductive age women in the United States may be at risk for iodine deficiency. J Nutr. 2010 Aug;140(8):1489-1494.
  • Pearce EN, Bazrafshan HR, He X, Pino S, Braverman LE. Dietary iodine in pregnant women from the Boston, Massachusetts area. Thyroid. 2004 Apr;14(4):327-328.
  • Zimmermann MB, Jooste PL, Pandav CS. Iodine-deficiency disorders. Lancet. 2008 Oct 4;372(9645):1251-1262.
  • International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders.
  • National Institute of Health. Vitamin Iodine Health Information. 2017.
  • Melse-Boonstra A, Jaiswal N. Iodine deficiency in pregnancy, infancy and childhood and its consequences for brain development. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Feb;24(1):29-38.
  • Zimmermann MB. Iodine deficiency in pregnancy and the effects of maternal iodine supplementation on the offspring: a review. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Feb;89(2):668S-672S.
  • Delange F. Iodine requirements during pregnancy, lactation and the neonatal period and indicators of optimal iodine nutrition. Public Health Nutr. 2007 Dec;10(12A):1571-1580.
  • Higdon, Jane. Iodine. Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University. 2015.