mineral · for high cholesterol
Iodine
Essential for thyroid hormone synthesis.
How strong is the research?
Not verified evidence
Different group studied
1 paper read, 1 supporting.
Tested as: Potassium iodate tablet. 200 mcg of iodine a day.
Who was studied: Moroccan women aged 20 to 50 carrying excess weight. All were well short of iodine to start with. Not people who already had enough.
We found 1 study on this. We have not finished reading them yet, so we are not ready to say either way.
How much to take
200 mcg
Before you take it
- Benefit from supplementation in iodine-sufficient individuals is not established; iodine status testing before supplementation is advisable given the documented risk of harm in sufficient individuals.
- Drug interaction: combined use with antithyroid medications (methimazole, propylthiouracil) produces an additive hypothyroid effect at high iodine doses (NIH ODS).
- Drug interaction: potassium iodide salt forms increase hyperkalemia risk when combined with ACE inhibitors (benazepril, lisinopril, fosinopril) — NIH ODS.
- Drug interaction: potassium iodide salt forms increase hyperkalemia risk when combined with potassium-sparing diuretics (spironolactone, amiloride) — NIH ODS.
- NIH ODS Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for adults 19+ is 1,100 mcg/day from all sources (food, beverages, and supplements combined).
- Pregnancy RDA increases to 220 mcg/day (WHO recommends 250 mcg/day); UL remains 1,100 mcg/day; supplementation during pregnancy and lactation should be medically supervised.
- Risk of triggering or accelerating autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease) in individuals with pre-existing thyroid autoimmunity, a common and often undiagnosed condition.
- Wolff-Chaikoff effect: excess iodine intake in iodine-sufficient individuals can paradoxically suppress thyroid hormone synthesis, potentially inducing the very hypothyroidism it purports to treat.