Why Your Blood Needs Iodine (Know The Benefits)

Do you know why your blood needs iodine? Iodine is an essential mineral nutrient that our body needs to stay healthy.

Iodine helps to produces thyroid hormones, good for metabolism, and regulates the amount of oxygen in our blood.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about some of the reasons why your blood needs iodine, and the importance of iodine for your health.

What is Iodine and What Does it Do in the Blood?

Iodine is a mineral found in some foods. The blood needs iodine to make thyroid hormones.

These hormones control the body’s metabolism and other functions.

The body needs thyroid hormones for bone and brain development during pregnancy and infancy.

Iodine is for everyone, especially infants and women who are pregnant. Some of the benefits and functions of iodine include:

• Production of thyroid hormones
• Regulating metabolism and heart rate
• Development of the brain and nervous system
• Maintaining thyroid function
• Preventing goiter and hyperthyroidism

In the body, iodine is stored in the thyroid gland, which is located in the neck.

The thyroid gland absorbs iodine from the bloodstream and uses it to produce thyroid hormones.

These hormones are released into the bloodstream where they are carried to cells throughout the body.

Don’t consume too much iodine, as this can lead to thyroid dysfunction.

Is Iodine Good for Your Blood?

Yes. Eating foods and taking dietary supplements containing iodine is beneficial to your health. Here are the reasons why your blood needs iodine:

1. Fetal growth and infant development

Breastfeeding women need enough iodine for their babies to mature.

Breastfed infants get iodine from breast milk. However, the iodine content of breast milk depends on how much iodine the mother gets.

To make adequate amounts of iodine available for proper fetal and infant development, pregnant and breastfeeding women should take iodine supplements.

The American Thyroid Association recommends that women who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding must take 150 mcg of iodine supplement daily.

2. Cognitive function

Severe iodine deficiency in children has harmful effects on the brain and nervous system.

The effects of mild iodine deficiency during childhood are more difficult to measure, but it might cause a slight problem with neurological development.

Giving iodine supplements to children with mild iodine deficiency improves their reasoning abilities and overall cognitive function.

More studies are needed to fully understand the effects of mild iodine deficiency and iodine supplements on cognitive function.

3. Fibrocystic breast disease

Although not harmful, fibrocystic breast disease causes lumpy, painful breasts. It affects most women of reproductive age but can also occur during menopause.

High doses of iodine supplements might reduce the pain and other symptoms of fibrocystic breast disease, but more study is necessary to confirm this.

Make sure you talk to your doctor before taking iodine supplement if you have fibrocystic disease. This is because iodine can be unsafe at higher dosages.

What Foods Provides Iodine?

Iodine is found naturally in some foods and is also added to salt that is labeled as iodized.

You can get recommended amounts of iodine by eating a variety of foods including:

• Cod
• Tuna
• Shrimp
• Milk
• Cheese
• Bread
• Clams
• Oyster
• Kosher salt
• Himalayan salt

Are Iodine Dietary Supplements Available?

Iodine is available in dietary supplements, usually in the form of potassium iodide and sodium iodide.

Many multivitamin-mineral supplements contain iodine. Some of which include: 

• Liquid Iodine Drops – USDA Certified Organic – Vegan Mineral Solution (2 Fl. Oz.)
• Adult Complete Gummy Multivitamin-Omega 3s, Vitamin D3, B12, E Iodine – Lemon Creme, Blackberry, Blueberry (180 Gummies)
• Thyroid Support With 150mcg Of Iodine – Supports Energy, Metabolism & Focus (60 Vegetarian Capsules)
• Tri-Iodine Made With Molecular, Sodium & Potassium Iodide – Hormone Balance Support – 12.5 MG (90 Capsules)
• Ionic Iodine from Potassium Iodide – Supports Healthy Thyroid Function

Dietary supplements of iodine-containing kelp are also available.

Are You Getting Enough Iodine in Your Blood?

Most people living in the U.S get sufficient amounts of iodine from foods and beverages.

However, some groups of people have problem getting iodine:

• People who do not use iodized salt
• Pregnant women
• People who eat vegan diet
• People who don’t eat foods containing enough iodine
• People who eat foods containing goitrogens

For most people in the United States who get adequate amounts of iodine, eating reasonable amounts of foods containing goitrogens is not a concern.

What if You Have Low Iodine in Your Blood?

Iodine deficiency is rare in the United States, Canada, and U.K. It is most common in Africa.

People who don’t get enough iodine from the diet are likely to experience the following: 

• Goiter. An enlarged thyroid gland, often visible as a swelling in the neck.
• Hypothyroidism. Symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland, include fatigue, weight gain, and sensitivity to cold.
• Cretinism. A severe form of iodine deficiency that can cause intellectual disability, stunted growth, and deformities.

In pregnant women, severe iodine deficiency (low levels of iodine) can harm the fetus by causing retarded growth, intellectual disability, and delayed sexual development.

Less severe iodine deficiency can also cause lower-than-average IQ in
infants, children and adults.

How Much Iodine Do You Need?

The amount of iodine you need in your body depends on several factors such as diet, age and gender.

Below are the average daily recommended amounts listed in micrograms (mcg).

• Birth to 6 months: 110 mcg
• Infants 7–12 months: 130 mcg
• Children 1–8 years: 90 mcg
• Children 9–13 years: 120 mcg
• Teens 14–18 years: 150 mcg
• Adults: 150 mcg
• Pregnant women: 220 mcg
• Breastfeeding women: 290 mcg

Does iodine interfere with other medications?

Yes. Iodine supplements can interact with medicines you take. Here are few examples:

• Methimazole
• Benazepril
• Lisinopril
• Fosinopril
• Spironolactone
• Amiloride

Is Iodine Harmful to Your Blood?

Yes, when you consume too much iodine for a longer period of time, it can harm you. High levels of iodine can cause hyperthyroidism, thyroid gland inflammation and thyroid cancer.

Large dose of iodine leads to:

• Burning of the stomach
• Fever
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Weak pulse
• Coma

The daily upper limits for iodine are listed below.

• Children 1–3 years: 200 mcg
• Children 4–8 years: 300 mcg
• Children 9–13 years: 600 mcg
• Teens 14–18 years: 900 mcg
• Adults: 1,100 mcg

These levels do not apply to people who are taking iodine for medical reasons under the care of a doctor.

Takeaway: Why your blood needs iodine

Iodine in the blood is necessary for the biosynthesis of thyroid hormone, fetal growth, and brain development.

To maintain good health and prevent deficiency problems eat foods containing iodine. If you are sure of not getting enough iodine from the diet consider taking supplements.