Which organ uses iodide?
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.
Iodine is mostly concentrated in thyroid gland(2). A healthy adult body contains 15-20 mg of iodine, 70-80% of which is stored in the thyroid gland.
Today, iodine has many commercial uses. Iodide salts are used in pharmaceuticals and disinfectants, printing inks and dyes, catalysts, animal feed supplements and photographic chemicals.
It is found naturally in some foods and is added to supplements and some salt seasonings. Iodine is needed to make the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which assist with the creation of proteins and enzyme activity, as well as regulating normal metabolism.
METABOLISM OF IODINE IN THE THYROID
Iodine enters the body in the form of iodate or iodide in the water we drink or food we eat; the iodate is converted to iodide in the stomach. The thyroid gland traps and concentrates iodide and uses it in the synthesis and storage of thyroid hormones [Figure 1].
Iodine from the diet is absorbed throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Dietary iodine is converted into the iodide ion before it is absorbed. The iodide ion is bio-available and absorbed totally from food and water. This is not true for iodine within thyroid hormones ingested for therapeutic purposes.
The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate the body's metabolic rate, growth and development. It plays a role in controlling heart, muscle and digestive function, brain development and bone maintenance. Its correct functioning depends on a good supply of iodine from the diet.
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.
Thyroid cells need iodine to make thyroid hormone. If you do not have enough iodine in your body, you cannot make enough thyroid hormone.
Iodine rarely occurs as the element, but rather as a salt; for this reason, it is referred to as iodide and not iodine. Iodide is quickly and almost completely absorbed in the stomach and duodenum. Iodate is reduced in the gastrointestinal tract and absorbed as iodide [2,5].
Which organs require iodine?
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.
Iodine is a mineral found in some foods. The body needs iodine to make thyroid hormones. These hormones control the body's metabolism and many other important functions. The body also needs thyroid hormones for proper bone and brain development during pregnancy and infancy.

The thyroid gland actively absorbs iodine from the blood to produce and release these hormones into the blood, actions which are regulated by a second hormone, called thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is produced by the pituitary gland.
Your thyroid uses iodine to make thyroid hormones, which control the rate of heartbeats, digestion and other functions. Without enough iodine, your thyroid gland works harder. It can become swollen or enlarged (goiter). Sometimes the gland can't make enough thyroid hormones – a condition called hypothyroidism.
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.
The body's supply of iodine becomes depleted when the thyroid uses more iodine than the individual is consuming. This may occur among individuals who do not consume iodine-rich foods on a regular basis.
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. Iodine is important before birth and in babies and young children.
There appear to be individual variabilities in the thyroid response to excess iodine intake due to the unmasking of underlying thyroid disease. Iodine excess can cause subclinical or overt thyroid dysfunction.
Iodine, as a trace element, is a necessary and limiting substrate for thyroid gland hormone synthesis. It is an essential element that enables the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
In order to make thyroid hormones, your thyroid gland needs iodine, an element found in food (most commonly, iodized table salt) and water. Your thyroid gland traps iodine and transforms it into thyroid hormones.
Does iodine reduce inflammation?
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.
Citrus Fruits: Fruits like grapefruit, oranges, limes and lemons all boost the liver's cleansing ability. Even consumed in small amounts (we know some of these can be tart!), citrus fruits help the liver to produce the detoxifying enzymes that flush out pollutants.
Fruits: Few fruits like Strawberries, Cranberries and Pineapple are an excellent and rich source of iodine.
What happens if I take too much iodine? Taking high doses of iodine for long periods of time could change the way your thyroid gland works. This can lead to a wide range of different symptoms, such as weight gain. If you take iodine supplements, do not take too much as this could be harmful.
This can be particularly risky, in part because iodine supplements can interact with several types of drugs, including anti-thyroid drugs used to treat hyperthyroidism. 5 Taking high doses of iodine with anti-thyroid medications can have an additive effect and could cause hypothyroidism.
KI can have harmful health effects and can cause allergic reactions. The risk of harm from KI increases when it is not taken exactly as directed by a medical or public health official. Harmful health effects may include: Gastro-intestinal (stomach) upset, rashes, and inflammation of the salivary glands.
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.
Mechanism of action and antimicrobial spectrum.
As a small molecule, iodine rapidly penetrates into microorganisms and oxidizes key proteins, nucleotides, and fatty acids, eventually leading to cell death (23, 24).
Pancreatitis has been implicated in the development and progression of type 2 diabetes and cancer. The pancreas uptakes molecular iodine (I2), which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Significance: iodine supplementation prevents pancreatic damage secondary to pharmacological hypothyroidism and could be associated with the normalization of the thyroid status and the induction of an antioxidant pancreatic microenvironment.
Is iodine in the liver?
A three-ounce serving of liver can provide 14 mcg of iodine along with the many other vitamins and nutrients it contains.
Adults who don't take in enough iodine can develop a goiter (a swelling of the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland in the neck), and the low output of thyroid hormone can lead to sluggish metabolism, poor thinking skills, infertility, thyroid cancer, and other conditions.
One of the most common results of low iodine is that your thyroid can't make enough thyroid hormone, a condition called hypothyroidism. This might inflame the gland and cause a goiter, but not always. It could also thin your hair, dry your skin, and make you feel cold, tired, constipated, and depressed.
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.
Take strong iodine in a full glass (8 ounces) of water or in fruit juice, milk, or broth to improve the taste and lessen stomach upset. Be sure to drink all of the liquid to get the full dose of medicine.
- 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.
- Abdominal pain.
- Coughing.
- Delirium.
- Diarrhea, sometimes bloody.
- Fever.
- Gum and tooth soreness.
- Loss of appetite.
- Metallic taste in mouth.
What causes iodine deficiency? Iodine deficiency occurs when you don't get enough iodine in your diet. While rare in the United States, iodine deficiency is a common condition in developing countries worldwide. People in areas far from water or at higher altitudes don't get enough iodine through seafood or dairy.
Iodine is naturally present in the ocean and some sea fish and water plants will store it in their tissues. Iodine can be found naturally in air, water and soil. The most important sources of natural iodine are the oceans.
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.
Can you reverse iodine deficiency?
If caught early, iodine deficiency can be reversed with few to no side effects. However, if it's caught after complications arise, many complications — especially in children — can be permanent.
Iodine deficient soils are most common in inland regions, mountainous areas and areas of frequent flooding, but can also occur in coastal regions (2). This arises from the distant past through glaciation, compounded by the leaching effects of snow, water and heavy rainfall, which removes iodine from the soil.
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.
Yes, if you get too much. Getting high levels of iodine can cause some of the same symptoms as iodine deficiency, including goiter (an enlarged thyroid gland). High iodine intakes can also cause thyroid gland inflammation and thyroid cancer.
SEVERE IODINE DEFICIENCY: EFFECTS AND PREVENTION
Severe iodine deficiency is associated with an array of adverse effects, including goiter, cretinism, neonatal hypothyroidism, growth retardation, and increased risks of pregnancy loss and infant mortality (17).
How long do you need to take iodine to start experiencing it's benefits? You may notice improvements in energy within one month of supplementing with iodine. Consistency is key and our research recommends taking your Feel supplements for at least 3 months to allow your body to adjust and provide the desired benefits.
Beans: Green beans and navy beans both are called for their high iodine content. Some portion of green beans included 3/mcg of iodine that caters to 2% of the required a quantity in the daily diet.
An essential mineral, iodine is used by the thyroid gland to make thyroid hormones that control many functions in the body including growth and development.
Higher intake can increase the risk of side effects such as thyroid problems. Iodine in larger amounts can cause metallic taste, soreness of teeth and gums, burning in mouth and throat, stomach upset, and many other side effects.
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