MAIN Health Vitamins & Minerals Iodine

In the U.S. and Canada, iodized salt has practically eliminated the need to be concerned about iodine deficiency that, in the past, might have resulted in birth defects and cognitive impairment.

Elsewhere around the planet, iodine can be found in seafood, or in vegetables growing in soil where iodine levels are high. For vegans & vegetarians - who are sometimes most at risk for iodine deficiency - seaweed and kelp are good sources of this important micronutrient.

Around the Web, find out more about this powerful trace element in the human diet and its use in radioactive form to treat thyroid disease and other conditions...

Iodine, Linus Pauling Institute's Micronutrient Information Center - Comprehensive information on function, food sources and supplements, deficiency dangers including that in prenatal development, nutrient and drug interactions, recommended dietary allowances by age level, information on its use in thyroid cancer and fibrocystic breast condition, and a link to related references.

Iodine - The importance of iodine in the vegan and vegetarian diet with information on deficiency levels and conditions that result in hypothyroidism and goiter, the dangers of overdose, and natural and commercially prepared food sources, from The Vegan Society.

The Merck Manual - Iodine - The relationship between iodine and the thryoid, with information on conditions associated with both deficiency and toxicity levels.

MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Iodine in diet - A summary of function, food sources, side effects of deficiency, recommended daily allowances.

New York Thyroid Center: Radioactive Iodine - Facts on its use in hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, and thyroid function testing, and radioiodine scanning with more on its use as treatment for Graves' Disease.

ThyCa: Radioactive Iodine - Useful information on the low-iodine diet recommended for pre-RAI scanning candidates with recommended foods, a complete low iodine cookbook downloadable in PDF format, and post-RAI testing advice.

Iodine Deficieny Disorders - The World Health Organization summary on the condition posing serious public health problems in 130 developing countries with sometimes devastating side effects, and work that continues toward universal salt iodization programs.

also see in Diseases -> Thyroid Disease | Thyroid Cancer