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A lack of iodine in the body can contribute to poor thyroid health, psychological imbalance, mental slowness and infertility.
Iodine is a trace element that is very important for health, particularly for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland.
In the past, this mineral was believed to only help to reverse swelling of the thyroid gland (goiter). However, now researchers understand that it is important in several other ways.
Signs of low iodine levels can include fatigue, weight gain, impaired cognitive function, feeling cold, immune dysfunction and poor skin health. If an Iodine Deficiency Disorder is diagnosed, it could cause serious and lasting health problems.
To remedy a deficiency, certain foods can be added to the diet or supplements can be used. Only a small amount of this mineral is required to alleviate symptoms related to deficiency.
Brain Power
Thyroid Function
Weight Loss- Important for thyroid hormones & metabolism
- Supports mental function & immunity
- Essential nutrient with multiple roles in the body
Top Iodine Products* ❯Signs of Low Iodine
According to research [1], the for primary functions of iodine in humans are:
- Supporting immune system function via antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic and anticancer effects;
- Facilitating prenatal (before birth) and neonatal (newborn) brain development;
- Stabilizing body weight and cellular metabolism;
- Maintaining reproductive health in both sexes;
If your levels of iodine are chronically low, then it is possible that you may feel fatigued, have trouble losing weight, experience depression and/or feel like you cannot get enough to eat.
According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, people that are chronically low in iodine have increased risks for developing various health conditions. Some of these include thyroid disease, obesity, fibrocystic breast disease, breast cancer and prostate cancer.
In children, common signs of low levels include hypothyroidism, mental retardation and developmental delays.
According to research from Oman Medical College, “Iodine deficiency remains the single greatest cause of preventable brain damage and mental retardation worldwide.”.
Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD)
If the body cannot meet its basic iodine requirements, then the thyroid gland cannot efficiently perform its duties. This can result in various abnormalities of physical and mental development and function. Together, these abnormalities are referred to as IDD.
Iodine Deficiency Disorders are a serious health concern in at least 118 countries worldwide. As of 2007, it was estimated that more than 1.572 billion people were at risk for IDD, with more than 655 million of them experiencing goiter. [1]
Geographic areas where goiter rates are 5% or above are considered iodine deficient. This mineral is most concentrated in soil. Areas with low soil levels grow low iodine crops. Animals in these areas will also be deficient in this mineral.
People who consume foods grown in soils that are low in iodine may also become deficient. Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America are the areas that are most affected by deficiency.
IDD is a group of health conditions which occur due to poor thyroid functioning. Iodine is required for T3 and T4 thyroid hormone synthesis.
T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine) are compounds that are produced by iodinating the amino acid tyrosine. T4 contains four iodine atoms while T3 contains only three.
The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating important body functions including temperature, appetite, energy metabolism, bone maintenance, cardiovascular function and digestion to name several.
Maternal lack of iodine during pregnancy and/or just after birth is associated with significant mental development problems. Some examples include lowered IQ scores, impaired reproductive functioning and irreversible brain damage.
Causes and Prevalence of Deficiency
The FDA updates the Total Diet Study four times annually. Past results from this study show that the average intake of iodine in the US declined from 621 mcg/day between 1974 and 1982 down to 373 mcg/day between 1982 and 1991.
In the same years, iodine ceased being used as an anticaking agent in the baking industry. It was replaced with bromine-based additives. Like iodine, bromine is a halogen. Bromine and other halogens like perchlorate, chlorine and fluorine compete with iodine for uptake into the thyroid gland.
Levels of this mineral are also reduced by exposure to halogens in many prescription medications, fluoridated water and industrial pollutants. According to Dr. Joseph Brownstein, lack of iodine is also caused by:
- Increased use of radioactive iodine in various medical procedures;
- Vegan and vegetarian diets that do not contain muscle and organ meats;
- Diets that lack seaweed, as well as certain fish and shellfish;
- Decreased iodide usage within the agricultural industry;
- Reduced usage of iodized table salt;
The above factors all contribute to increasing prevalence of deficiency disorders worldwide. WHO estimates that almost 40% of the human population is deficient in this important trace mineral.
Early Signs of Low Levels
Signs of low iodine are similar to the signs of hypothyroidism. The following are some of the early signs of sub-optimal intake that you can self-monitor for:
- Depression, irritability and/or other mental imbalances;
- Menstruation and/or fertility abnormalities;
- Poor concentration and/or memory;
- Intolerance to cold temperatures;
- Mental and/or physical fatigue;
- Early menopause symptoms;
- Unexplained weight gain;
- Hoarseness/sore throat;
- High cholesterol levels;
- Cold feet and hands;
- Dry hair and/or skin;
- Slow heart rate;
- Brittle nails;
More serious signs may include dysfunction of the thyroid and/or fibrocystic breast disease. Lack of iodine is also associated with increased risk of breast, prostate, ovarian and endometrial cancer.
Do not attempt to increase your iodine levels without proper medical advice. Taking too much of this mineral can lead to adverse reactions. Talk to your doctor before starting to use a dietary supplement.
- Kapil, Umesh. "Health Consequences of Iodine Deficiency." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal 7.3 (2007): 267–272. Print.
- Ghent WR1, Eskin BA, Low DA, Hill LP. Iodine replacement in fibrocystic disease of the breast. Can J Surg. 1993 Oct;36(5):453-60.
- Patrick L1. Iodine: deficiency and therapeutic considerations. Altern Med Rev. 2008 Jun;13(2):116-27.
- Leung, Angela M., and Lewis E. Braverman. "Consequences of Excess Iodine." Nature reviews. Endocrinology 10.3 (2014): 136–142. PMC. Web. 11 July 2016.
- Fabian Rohner,5,6,15 Michael Zimmermann,7,8,15 Pieter Jooste,9,10,15 Chandrakant Pandav,11,12,15 Kathleen Caldwell,13,15 Ramkripa Raghavan,14 and Daniel J. Raiten14,* Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development—Iodine Review1,2,3,4 J Nutr. 2014 Aug; 144(8): 1322S–1342S.
- Vermeulen H1, Westerbos SJ, Ubbink DT. Benefit and harm of iodine in wound care: a systematic review. J Hosp Infect. 2010 Nov;76(3):191-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2010.04.026. Epub 2010 Aug 12.
- RS1, Witt KL, Alden CJ, Cockerham LG. Toxicology of methyl bromide. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol. 1995;142:65-85.
- Kapil U1. Health consequences of iodine deficiency. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2007 Dec;7(3):267-72.
- Ahad, Farhana, and Shaiq A. Ganie. "Iodine, Iodine Metabolism and Iodine Deficiency Disorders Revisited." Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 14.1 (2010): 13–17. Print.
- Sterling JB1, Heymann WR. Potassium iodide in dermatology: a 19th century drug for the 21st century-uses, pharmacology, adverse effects, and contraindications. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000 Oct;43(4):691-7.
Article last updated on: July 9th, 2018 by Nootriment