Is iodine good for seniors?
Specifically, iodine nutrition is a pivotal determinant of thyroid dysfunction, and this influence is strengthened with advancing age (Reference Laurberg, Cerqueira and Ovesen20). Iodine deficiency is known to be associated with an increased occurrence of hyperthyroidism.
RDA for Men | |
---|---|
31–50 years | 150 μg/day of iodine |
50–70 years | 150 μg/day of iodine |
> 70 years | 150 μg/day of iodine |
RDA for Women |
If the underactive thyroid isn't caused by iodine deficiency, then iodine supplements give no benefit and shouldn't be taken. In fact, for some people with an underactive thyroid, too much iodine can cause or worsen their condition.
Iodine helps the thyroid gland, in the neck, to make the hormone thyroxine. Thyroxine controls many of the ways certain cells work. Thyroxine is important for the growth of bones and nerves, and how proteins, fats and carbohydrates are used in the body.
- Swelling of thyroid glands in the neck.
- A visible lump (goiter) on your neck.
- Weight gain, fatigue and weakness.
- Thinning hair.
- Dry skin.
- Feeling colder than usual.
- Slowed heart rate.
- Learning and memory difficulties.
An iodine deficiency can cause uncomfortable and even severe symptoms. They include swelling in the neck, pregnancy-related issues, weight gain and learning difficulties. Its symptoms are very similar to those of hypothyroidism, or low thyroid hormones.
High iodine intakes can also cause thyroid gland inflammation and thyroid cancer. Getting a very large dose of iodine (several grams, for example) can cause burning of the mouth, throat, and stomach; fever; stomach pain; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; weak pulse; and coma.
Fruits: Few fruits like Strawberries, Cranberries and Pineapple are an excellent and rich source of iodine.
A preclinical study in mice showed that giving iodide prior to constricting blood flow to a muscle protects against both local and systemic inflammation-induced tissue damage.
What does the Department of Health and Social Care advise? You should be able to get all the iodine you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take iodine supplements, do not take too much as this could be harmful. Taking 0.5mg or less a day of iodine supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.
What to avoid when taking iodine?
- Iodized salt.
- Any vitamins or supplements that contain iodine (especially kelp and dulse)
- Milk or other dairy products including ice cream, cheese, yogurt and butter.
- Seafood including fish, sushi, shellfish, kelp or seaweed.
- Herbal supplements.
- amiloride.
- drospirenone.
- iodine (radioactive)
- iodoquinol.
- lithium.
- methimazole.
- potassium acid phosphate.
- potassium chloride.

Iodine can restore hair and eliminate the cause of hair damage. In fact, iodine literally destroys the fungus that damages the ends of the hair follicles. Iodine also has strong antiparasitic, antibacterial, and antiviral properties that support scalp health.
The best iodine supplement is generally recognized to be potassium iodide. However, getting the necessary amount shouldn't require supplementation unless you're pregnant or breastfeeding. Some “natural” iodine supplements like kelp may deliver erratic and sometimes toxic levels of iodine.
- Maintain Healthy Iodine Levels.
- Include Selenium-Rich Foods in Your Diet.
- Increase Your Probiotics.
- Cut Back on Your Sugar Intake.
- Exercise Regularly.
- Manage Your Stress.
Blood test: This is a simple and accurate test for iodine levels in the body, but it takes more time to read than a urine test. Iodine patch test: The iodine patch test is a test where doctors paint a patch of iodine on your skin and check how it looks 24 hours later.
Animal sources of iodine are generally the richest sources available, and eggs are no exception. A single hard-boiled egg provides about 26 mcg of iodine.
Although pink Himalayan salt may naturally contain some iodine, it most likely contains less iodine than iodized salt. Therefore, those who have iodine deficiency or are at risk of deficiency may need to source iodine elsewhere if using pink salt instead of table salt.
When should women take iodine supplements? Women should take iodine supplements when planning pregnancy, during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. If pregnancy is not planned, women should start taking an iodine supplement as soon as possible after finding out they are pregnant.
Hypothyroidism occurs when your body's iodine level decreases and your thyroid gland can't produce thyroid hormone. This condition is also called underactive thyroid. It causes your metabolism to slow down, leading to fatigue, weight gain and the inability to tolerate cold.
What does too much iodine feel like?
Acute iodine toxicity is rare and is often difficult to recognize. Clinical manifestations may range from nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea to delirium, stupor, and shock.
Excessive iodine intake may result in elevated blood glucose and blood pressure and has some influence on blood lipids, and may increase the risk of hypertension and diabetes.
Iodine is essential for thyroid functioning. Your thyroid needs it to produce hormones essential for metabolism. A deficiency can lead to hypothyroidism, meaning that your thyroid isn't working as well as it should, and it can lead to issues such as fatigue, joint pain, and fertility problems.
Serious kidney damage can be caused by the iodine-containing “dyes” that doctors use to enhance the quality of medical scans. These dyes are called contrast agents, and are usually given intravenously before a CT scan, angiogram or other test.
Do Bananas Have Iodine? Yes, bananas contain this element (6). Therefore, it is supremely important to calculate how much you can eat in order not to go over your daily iodine limit. One medium banana holds about 2% of the daily iodine value.
- Seaweed (nori, kelp, kombu, wakame)
- Fish, shellfish (cod, canned tuna, oysters, shrimp)
- Table salts labeled “iodized”
- Dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt)
- Eggs.
- Beef liver.
- Chicken.
Sources of Iodine. Seaweed (such as kelp, nori, kombu, and wakame) is one of the best food sources of iodine [5]. Other good sources include fish and other seafood, as well as eggs (see Table 2). Iodine is also present in human breast milk [2,5] and infant formulas [8].
Boosts kidney and liver functions
Because of iodine's ability to improve thyroid function, through encouraging the production of important thyroid hormones, it can also have somewhat of an indirect effect on improving the functions of both the liver and kidneys, two super vital organs when it comes to detoxification.
Studies have indicated that low iodine levels can contribute to mental health problems, including anxiety and depression. The thyroid hormones influenced by iodine play a vital role in brain development and neurotransmitter regulation, which directly affect mood and emotional wellbeing.
Iodine is used by the thyroid gland in your throat to make thyroid hormones. These hormones control your metabolic rate (the rate at which your body uses energy when it is resting). They also help your brain and body grow and develop.
Is 200 mcg of iodine too much?
In the U.S., adults are advised to get 150 micrograms of iodine each day; pregnant women should get 220 micrograms, while breastfeeding moms are told to get 290 micrograms.
Take this medicine once a day for 10 days, unless otherwise directed by public health authorities. Do not take more of it and do not take it more often than directed. Taking more of the medicine will not protect you better and may result in a greater chance of side effects.
Iodine is critical to healthy thyroid function. Inadequate iodine intake causes weight gain, low energy, depression, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and a variety of cancers.
Introduction. Iodine (I) is an essential trace element for humans and animals and its deficiency can affect basal metabolism and immune system function [1,2]. people with I deficiency, in large numbers around the world, suffer from physical illnesses and weakened immune systems [3].
Iodine is essential for thyroid hormone synthesis. High iodine intakes are well tolerated by most healthy individuals, but in some people, excess iodine intakes may precipitate hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, goiter, and/or thyroid autoimmunity.
High iodine intakes can also cause thyroid gland inflammation and thyroid cancer. Getting a very large dose of iodine (several grams, for example) can cause burning of the mouth, throat, and stomach; fever; stomach pain; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; weak pulse; and coma.
You should be able to get all the iodine you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take iodine supplements, do not take too much as this could be harmful. Taking 0.5mg or less a day of iodine supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.
Present findings demonstrated that iodine excess could dose dependently induce hepatic steatosis.
However, there is some evidence that iodine-131 can induce liver injury . Here we report a rare case of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) caused by iodine-131 in a patient with regional lymph node metastasis after total thyroidectomy.
Iodine supplements can interact with certain blood pressure medications and diuretics, including lisinopril, spironolactone, and amiloride, causing a dangerous buildup of potassium in the blood called hyperkalemia.
Can iodine cause anxiety?
Studies have indicated that low iodine levels can contribute to mental health problems, including anxiety and depression. The thyroid hormones influenced by iodine play a vital role in brain development and neurotransmitter regulation, which directly affect mood and emotional wellbeing.
1 Inadequate intake of iodine leads to insufficient production of these hormones, which adversely affect the muscle, heart, liver, kidney and the developing brain. This results in the disease states collectively known as Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD).