Functions
- thyroid hormone formation
- regulates oxidation in cells
- required during growth during pregnancy and infancy
Deficiency
- hypothyroidism
- disturbance in thyroid function
- goiter
- enlargement of thyroid gland
- cretinism
- stunting and mental retardation
- in infants / newborn
Characteristic
- Trace Mineral
Good Sources
Natural
- seafood
- salt-water fish
- shell fish
- seaweed
- dairy
- milk
- cheese
- butter
- whole-grain cereal
Food | Quantity | mcg |
---|---|---|
Cheese, chedder | 1 oz | 12 |
Salt, iodized | 1 tsp | 400 |
Artificial
- iodized salt
Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA)
- Males and Females (11 yrs. and older)
- 150 mcg
- Pregnant females
- 175 mcg
- Lactating females
- 200 mcg
- Children
- 7-10 yrs.
- 120 mcg
- 4-6 yrs.
- 90 mcg
- 1-3 yrs.
- 70 mcg
- 7-10 yrs.
- Infants
- 7 mths - 1 yrs.
- 50 mcg
- birth - 6 mths
- 40 mcg
- 7 mths - 1 yrs.
Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL)
- Adults (19 to 50 yrs)
- 1,100 mcg
- Intakes above UL may lead to negative health consequences
- headaches
- metallic tast in mouth
- iodide goiter (doses over 20000 mcg daily)
Supplementation
- Not recommended
- Widely found in food
- even if little iodized salt is used, probably enough iodine will be consumed
- Others recommend 150-300 mcg daily
- Best taken with iron, manganese, phosphorus