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Iodine
Vitamins & Minerals·Mixed Evidence

Iodine

9 products scoredLast reviewed May 2026
Evidence
Mixed Evidence
Category
Vitamins & Minerals
Best form
Potassium iodide (KI) - standard, well-absorbed supplemental form used in clinical trials and prenatal vitamins
Effective dose
RDA is 150 mcg/day for non-pregnant adults
Lab tested
5 of 9 products

Key takeaways

  • If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take a prenatal with 150 mcg iodine; the ATA recommends it and the evidence on fetal brain development is the strongest part of the iodine case.
  • If you eat iodized salt, dairy, seafood, or seaweed, you probably do not need a separate iodine supplement. US population-level intake is adequate-to-borderline.
  • Megadose iodine (Iodoral 12.5 mg, Lugol's drops, 'thyroid optimization' protocols) is not supported by RCT evidence and can trigger Wolff-Chaikoff hypothyroidism or worsen Hashimoto's in susceptible people.
  • Potassium iodide at 150-225 mcg is the form used in clinical trials and prenatal vitamins; kelp is variable batch-to-batch; molecular I2 (Ghent/Kessler form) is uncommon in retail.
  • Test iodine status (urine iodine) and TSH/thyroid antibodies before exceeding the 1,100 mcg/day tolerable upper limit. Talk to a physician before megadose protocols.

What Is Iodine?

Iodine is the rare supplement where buying the wrong dose can harm you more than not buying any at all. The body needs iodine to build thyroid hormone, and severe deficiency causes goiter, hypothyroidism, and irreversible cognitive damage in developing fetuses. The US largely solved this in the 1920s with iodized salt, and population-level iodine status in North America is adequate-to-borderline depending on the survey. The case for supplementation in the US is narrow and dose-dependent.

The strong evidence is in three places. First, pregnancy and lactation: the American Thyroid Association (Alexander 2017 guidelines) recommends pregnant and breastfeeding women take 150 mcg/day of iodine through a prenatal vitamin, because fetal thyroid hormone synthesis depends on maternal iodine and mild deficiency during pregnancy has been linked to lower verbal IQ and reading scores in offspring at age 8-9 (Bath 2013, Lancet ALSPAC analysis of 1,040 mother-child pairs). Most US prenatal vitamins now include 150-220 mcg of iodine for this reason. Second, public-health deficiency: in iodine-deficient regions (parts of Africa, South Asia, mountainous Europe), iodine fortification and supplementation prevent goiter, cretinism, and developmental delay. This is well-established and not controversial. Third, fibrocystic breast pain: Ghent 1993 and Kessler 2004 are small RCTs using molecular iodine (I2, not potassium iodide) at 3-6 mg/day that showed reduced breast pain and nodularity. The signal is real but the trials are small, the form is uncommon, and most retail "iodine for breasts" products are not the I2 form actually tested.

The contested area is "thyroid optimization" with high-dose iodine in iodine-sufficient adults. Brownstein-style protocols recommend 12.5-50 mg/day (50-200x the RDA) of Iodoral or Lugol's based on the claim that population iodine intake has fallen and that megadoses correct a hidden epidemic. The evidence base is uncontrolled case series and clinical observation, not randomized trials. The risk side is documented: large iodine loads can trigger the Wolff-Chaikoff effect (transient hypothyroidism in susceptible individuals; Markou 2001), precipitate Jod-Basedow hyperthyroidism in those with nodular goiter, and worsen or unmask Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroiditis (Leung 2014, Nature Reviews Endocrinology; Katagiri 2017, PLoS One meta-analysis of populations exposed to excess iodine). A 12.5 mg Iodoral tablet delivers 83 times the 150 mcg RDA and ~11x the 1,100 mcg upper tolerable limit. Taking that daily without testing iodine status and thyroid antibodies first is a bet against your endocrine system.

The dose-response curve for iodine is U-shaped: too little and too much both cause thyroid dysfunction, and the safe window is narrower than for most nutrients. If you eat iodized salt, dairy, seafood, or seaweed regularly, you are probably iodine-sufficient. If you avoid iodized salt and eat a whole-foods/plant-forward diet, a 150 mcg/day potassium iodide tab is reasonable insurance. Megadosing is not.

Does It Work? The Evidence

How A-F grades work

Adequate iodine in pregnancy and lactation for fetal neurodevelopment

ASupported

Alexander 2017 ATA pregnancy guidelines recommending 150 mcg/day; Bath 2013 Lancet ALSPAC analysis (n=1,040) linking mild maternal deficiency to lower child IQ; Dineva 2020 AJCN systematic review

Prevention of goiter and iodine deficiency disorders in deficient populations

ASupported

Zimmermann 2008 Lancet review of global iodine deficiency disorders; Zimmermann 2009 Endocrine Reviews; decades of population-scale fortification data

Fibrocystic breast pain (cyclic mastalgia)

CEarly Signal

Ghent 1993 Can J Surg multi-arm trial of molecular iodine in fibrocystic disease; Kessler 2004 Breast J RCT (n=111) showing 3-6 mg/day molecular I2 reduced breast pain vs. placebo over 5 months

Thyroid hormone production support in iodine-sufficient adults

CNot There Yet

Mechanistically required as substrate, but RCTs in iodine-replete populations do not show benefit from added iodine; benefit is in correcting deficiency, not exceeding sufficiency

High-dose iodine (12.5-50 mg/day Iodoral/Lugol's) for 'thyroid optimization'

DNot There Yet

No randomized controlled trials. Clinical observations and uncontrolled case series only. Counterbalanced by Leung 2014 Nat Rev Endocrinol and Katagiri 2017 PLoS One showing excess iodine triggers iodine-induced hypothyroidism and worsens autoimmune thyroid disease

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (high-dose iodine)

BIneffective

Excess iodine intake is a documented risk factor for triggering and worsening Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroiditis in susceptible individuals (Leung 2014; Markou 2001). Selenium, not iodine, is the trace mineral with positive Hashimoto's trial data

Radiation protection (potassium iodide for thyroid blockade post-exposure)

ASupported

Established pharmaceutical use (FDA-approved KI tablets for nuclear emergency thyroid blockade); not a daily-use indication for consumer supplements

How to Choose: Forms, Doses & What Matters

Clinical dose: RDA is 150 mcg/day for non-pregnant adults; 220 mcg/day in pregnancy and 290 mcg/day in lactation. Tolerable upper limit is 1,100 mcg/day from all sources

Best forms: Potassium iodide (KI) - standard, well-absorbed supplemental form used in clinical trials and prenatal vitamins, Kelp / bladderwrack (natural source) - iodine content varies widely batch-to-batch (50-2000 mcg per gram), so doses on the label are estimates, Molecular iodine (I2) - the form used in the Ghent and Kessler fibrocystic breast trials; uncommon in retail supplements, Lugol's solution / Iodoral (5% I2 + 7.5% potassium iodide blend) - megadose protocol form, not appropriate for most users

For general adequacy: 150 mcg/day of potassium iodide, taken at any time of day with or without food. This is the RDA and the dose used in prenatal vitamins. For pregnancy and lactation: 150 mcg/day delivered through a prenatal vitamin is typically sufficient; total daily intake including diet should target 220-290 mcg. Do not stack a separate iodine supplement on top of a prenatal that already contains iodine without checking the label. Iodine is well-absorbed orally; no specific timing or food requirement applies. If you are using a Lugol's or Iodoral product above the 1,100 mcg upper limit, this should be done only under medical supervision with baseline and follow-up urinary iodine, TSH, free T4, and TPO antibody testing. Iodine and selenium work together in thyroid hormone metabolism; in Hashimoto's specifically, selenium has better-evidenced effects than added iodine.

Who Should Take Iodine?

Pregnant and breastfeeding women, who need 150 mcg/day of supplemental iodine (typically via prenatal vitamin) per the American Thyroid Association 2017 guidelines. People who avoid iodized salt and dairy and do not eat seafood or seaweed - a 150 mcg/day potassium iodide tablet is reasonable insurance. Strict plant-based eaters in regions with low-iodine soil (some areas of inland Europe, mountainous parts of Asia and Africa). People living in or sourcing food from documented iodine-deficient regions. Anyone with a documented low urinary iodine on testing (under 100 mcg/L in non-pregnant adults; under 150 mcg/L in pregnancy). For all of these, the appropriate dose is 150 mcg/day, not megadose protocols.

Who Should Avoid It?

Not for everyone

People with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, or any autoimmune thyroid disorder should avoid iodine doses above the 150 mcg RDA without an endocrinologist's supervision. Excess iodine is a documented trigger and accelerator of autoimmune thyroid disease. People with multinodular goiter or thyroid autonomy face Jod-Basedow hyperthyroidism risk from high iodine loads. Anyone taking thyroid hormone replacement (levothyroxine) or anti-thyroid medications (methimazole, propylthiouracil) should not change iodine intake without consulting their prescribing physician - iodine affects hormone synthesis and can require dose adjustment. People on lithium, amiodarone, or other drugs that interact with thyroid function. Anyone considering Iodoral, Lugol's, or 'thyroid optimization' protocols above 1,100 mcg/day without baseline urinary iodine, TSH, free T4, and TPO/Tg antibody testing - the risk profile is meaningful and the evidence is not.

Side Effects & Safety

At the 150 mcg RDA dose, iodine is well-tolerated with no expected side effects in iodine-sufficient adults. Higher doses can produce a metallic taste, mouth sores or stomatitis, gastric irritation, and the classic iodine acne (acneiform eruption on the face, chest, and back). Iodine sensitivity reactions are real but distinct from contrast-media allergy; some people develop urticaria or rhinitis on high-dose iodine. The serious effects are endocrine: the Wolff-Chaikoff effect produces transient hypothyroidism within days of a large iodine load and usually resolves as the thyroid adapts, but in newborns, fetuses, people with autoimmune thyroiditis, and people with prior thyroid surgery, the adaptation can fail and persistent hypothyroidism results. Jod-Basedow hyperthyroidism can be precipitated by iodine in people with nodular goiter or thyroid autonomy. Chronic iodine intake above 1,100 mcg/day is associated in observational studies with increased risk of subclinical hypothyroidism, elevated TSH, and triggering or worsening Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroiditis (Leung 2014; Katagiri 2017). Acute toxicity from grams of iodine causes vomiting, GI bleeding, and circulatory collapse - this is a pharmaceutical-exposure scenario, not a supplement dose.

Product Scores

9 products scored on dosing accuracy, third-party testing, cost per effective dose, and label transparency.

The Scorecard: 9 Products Compared

Top Pick
01

Pure Encapsulations Iodine (Potassium Iodide) 225 mcg

Pure Encapsulations
90/100
Excellent
$0.16/day225mcg/serving$19.50 (120 servings)

$19.50 ÷ 122 days at 225mcg/day (1 serving × 225mcg)

✓ Third-party testedEurofins/Silliker tested

The cleanest formulation in this category. Best pick for people with multiple food sensitivities or anyone who wants dose precision from potassium iodide rather than variable kelp.

+Potassium iodide is the precise, clinically-tested form
+Eurofins/Silliker third-party testing
+Hypoallergenic - free from major allergens
Premium $0.16/day vs. $0.03/day for NOW kelp
No USP or NSF certification
Dosing
24/25
Purity
23/25
Value
18/25
Transparency
25/25

Prices checked 2026-05-18. Cost shown is per clinically effective daily dose, not per pill.

02

NOW Foods Kelp 150 mcg (200 tablets)

NOW Foods
86/100
Excellent
$0.03/day150mcg/serving$6.99 (200 servings)

$6.99 ÷ 233 days at ~129mcg/day (0.9 servings × 150mcg)

✓ Third-party testedNPA GMP Audited

The default pick for anyone who wants a 150 mcg/day insurance dose without overpaying. Kelp is less precise than potassium iodide but adequate for population-level adequacy.

+Hits the 150 mcg adult RDA in a single small tablet
+Rock-bottom $0.03/day from a reputable brand
+Natural kelp source with disclosed species
Kelp iodine varies batch-to-batch vs. potassium iodide
No USP or NSF certification on this SKU
Dosing
23/25
Purity
20/25
Value
23/25
Transparency
20/25

Prices checked 2026-05-18. Cost shown is per clinically effective daily dose, not per pill.

03

Thorne Iodine & Tyrosine (225 mcg + 500 mg L-Tyrosine)

Thorne
84/100
Good
$0.40/day225mcg/serving$24.00 (60 servings)

$24.00 ÷ 60 days at 225mcg/day (1 serving × 225mcg)

✓ Third-party testedThorne in-house multi-stage testing

Reasonable pick if you want Thorne's quality program and the tyrosine addition appeals to you. For pure iodine adequacy, Pure Encapsulations Iodine is the same potassium iodide dose at lower cost.

+Thorne quality and testing program
+Potassium iodide at clinically appropriate dose
+Tyrosine is mechanistically tied to thyroid hormone synthesis
Premium pricing on a 60-count bottle
Tyrosine combo not RCT-validated for thyroid endpoints
Contraindicated with MAOI antidepressants and not for pregnancy
Dosing
21/25
Purity
24/25
Value
17/25
Transparency
22/25

Prices checked 2026-05-18. Cost shown is per clinically effective daily dose, not per pill.

04

Solgar North Atlantic Kelp 200 mcg (250 tablets)

Solgar
82/100
Good
$0.06/day200mcg/serving$14.99 (250 servings)

$14.99 ÷ 250 days at 200mcg/day (1 serving × 200mcg)

✓ Third-party tested

Solid mid-tier kelp option. For someone who wants a slightly higher dose than the NOW 150 mcg with similar pricing and a recognizable brand.

+Long-standing brand with stable formulation
+250-count bottle, 8+ months supply at one tab/day
+Glass bottle packaging
Kelp dose less precise than potassium iodide
No USP or NSF certification
Dosing
22/25
Purity
19/25
Value
22/25
Transparency
19/25

Prices checked 2026-05-18. Cost shown is per clinically effective daily dose, not per pill.

05

Life Extension Sea-Iodine 1000 mcg (60 caps)

Life Extension
78/100
Good
$0.18/day1000mcg/serving$11.00 (60 servings)

$11.00 ÷ 61 days at 1000mcg/day (1 serving × 1000mcg)

✓ Third-party testedThird-party tested

Real but narrow use case. If you have documented deficiency on urinary iodine testing or live in a low-iodine region, this is a reasonable corrective dose under physician guidance. For everyday adequacy, the 150 mcg NOW or 225 mcg Pure Encapsulations options are safer defaults.

+Higher dose option for documented deficiency
+Kelp + bladderwrack blend for natural-source iodine
+Life Extension third-party testing program
1,000 mcg/day approaches the tolerable upper limit
Not appropriate as routine intake for iodine-sufficient adults
Kelp dose is approximate, not exact
Dosing
18/25
Purity
20/25
Value
20/25
Transparency
20/25

Prices checked 2026-05-18. Cost shown is per clinically effective daily dose, not per pill.

06

Standard Process Prolamine Iodine 600 mcg (90 tablets)

Standard Process

72/100
Good
$0.18/day600mcg/serving$16.50 (90 servings)

$16.50 ÷ 92 days at 600mcg/day (1 serving × 600mcg)

Practitioner-channel product. The 600 mcg dose is not appropriate for everyday use without a clinical reason. If a practitioner recommends this specifically, follow their guidance; otherwise the 150-225 mcg options are better defaults.

+Single-tablet higher-dose option
+Practitioner-channel brand with long history
+Includes small amounts of calcium and magnesium
600 mcg/day exceeds the RDA fourfold without clear use case
Prolamine delivery form lacks comparative RCT data
No third-party certification
Dosing
18/25
Purity
17/25
Value
18/25
Transparency
19/25

Prices checked 2026-05-18. Cost shown is per clinically effective daily dose, not per pill.

07

Global Healing Detoxadine Nascent Iodine (1 oz)

Global Healing

65/100
Fair
$0.21/day1950mcg/serving$42.95 (200 servings)

$42.95 ÷ 205 days at 1950mcg/day (1 serving × 1950mcg)

USDA Organic

If the 'nascent' marketing pulls you in, understand that the chemistry claim does not survive scrutiny - iodine equilibrates in solution regardless of starting form. You are paying a premium for a positioning claim, not a documented bioavailability advantage. Same megadose-iodine cautions apply.

+USDA Organic certification
+Liquid format with dropper for titration
+Per-drop amount clearly labeled
1,950 mcg per serving exceeds the tolerable upper limit
'Nascent iodine' bioavailability claim not supported by trials
Premium price for unproven differentiation vs. potassium iodide
Dosing
16/25
Purity
15/25
Value
16/25
Transparency
18/25

Prices checked 2026-05-18. Cost shown is per clinically effective daily dose, not per pill.

Best Value
08

J.CROW's Lugol's Solution of Iodine 2% (2 oz)

J.CROW's

62/100
Fair
$0.02/day2500mcg/serving$19.95 (1200 servings)

$19.95 ÷ 998 days at ~3008mcg/day (1.2 servings × 2500mcg)

Traditional Lugol's solution. Useful as a precision dropper format if you and your physician have decided on a megadose protocol with monitoring. Not appropriate for self-directed daily use without testing and oversight.

+Long-running Lugol's brand with consistent formulation
+Glass bottle, dropper format allows precise titration
+Very low cost per drop
Single drop is already ~17x the RDA
Same endocrine-risk profile as Iodoral at functional doses
No third-party testing or recognized certification
Not GMP-certified for dietary supplements
Dosing
14/25
Purity
15/25
Value
18/25
Transparency
15/25

Prices checked 2026-05-18. Cost shown is per clinically effective daily dose, not per pill.

09

Optimox Iodoral 12.5 mg (90 tablets)

Optimox

60/100
Fair
$0.45/day12500mcg/serving$40.95 (90 servings)

$40.95 ÷ 91 days at 12500mcg/day (1 serving × 12500mcg)

Listed because users will buy it regardless. This is not a general-population supplement. If you are working with a functional medicine practitioner on a megadose iodine protocol, you should also be getting baseline and follow-up urinary iodine, TSH, free T4, and TPO antibody testing. Do not start this on your own.

+Originator of the Iodoral formulation
+Provides both I2 and KI forms on a single tablet
+Exact dose disclosure
Dose is 83x the RDA and >10x the tolerable upper limit
No RCT evidence supporting 'thyroid optimization' protocols
Documented risk of triggering Hashimoto's, Wolff-Chaikoff hypothyroidism, and Jod-Basedow hyperthyroidism
Should only be used with baseline urinary iodine and thyroid antibody testing under physician care
Dosing
12/25
Purity
17/25
Value
15/25
Transparency
16/25

Prices checked 2026-05-18. Cost shown is per clinically effective daily dose, not per pill.

Full Comparison

Category
Pure Encapsulations Iodine (Potassium Iodide) 225 mcg
Pure Encapsulations
NOW Foods Kelp 150 mcg (200 tablets)
NOW Foods
Thorne Iodine & Tyrosine (225 mcg + 500 mg L-Tyrosine)
Thorne
Solgar North Atlantic Kelp 200 mcg (250 tablets)
Solgar
Life Extension Sea-Iodine 1000 mcg (60 caps)
Life Extension
Standard Process Prolamine Iodine 600 mcg (90 tablets)
Standard Process
Global Healing Detoxadine Nascent Iodine (1 oz)
Global Healing
J.CROW's Lugol's Solution of Iodine 2% (2 oz)
J.CROW's
Optimox Iodoral 12.5 mg (90 tablets)
Optimox
Brand Score90/100Winner86/10084/10082/10078/10072/10065/10062/10060/100
Dosing & Form24/25Winner23/2521/2522/2518/2518/2516/2514/2512/25
Purity23/2520/2524/25Winner19/2520/2517/2515/2515/2517/25
Value18/2523/25Winner17/2522/2520/2518/2516/2518/2515/25
Transparency25/25Winner20/2522/2519/2520/2519/2518/2515/2516/25
Cost/Day$0.16$0.03$0.40$0.06$0.18$0.18$0.21$0.02Winner$0.45
Dose/Serving225mcg150mcg225mcg200mcg1000mcg600mcg1950mcg2500mcg12500mcg
FormPotassium iodide (vegetarian capsule)Organic kelp (Laminaria) tabletPotassium iodide + L-tyrosine (capsule)North Atlantic kelp tabletKelp + bladderwrack blend (vegetarian capsule)Prolamine iodine (zein-bound) tabletNascent iodine (liquid drops)Lugol's solution 2% (liquid drops)Molecular iodine (I2) + potassium iodide tablet
Third-Party Tested✓ Yes✓ Yes✓ Yes✓ Yes✓ YesNoNoNoNo
Proprietary BlendNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an iodine supplement if I eat iodized salt?

Probably not. A half-teaspoon of US iodized salt provides roughly 150 mcg of iodine - the full adult RDA. Dairy is also a significant US iodine source (residual from livestock feed and equipment sanitizers), as are seafood and bread. Population surveys (NHANES) show median US iodine status is adequate, though some subgroups - pregnant women, people on plant-based diets, people using non-iodized specialty salts - run lower. If you are healthy, eat a varied diet, and use iodized salt, a separate iodine supplement is not needed.

How much iodine do I need in pregnancy?

The American Thyroid Association's 2017 pregnancy guidelines (Alexander et al.) recommend that pregnant and breastfeeding women in North America take 150 mcg of supplemental iodine per day, typically via a prenatal vitamin, on top of dietary intake. The total target is approximately 220 mcg/day in pregnancy and 290 mcg/day in lactation (the RDAs for those states). Most US prenatal vitamins now include 150-220 mcg iodine; check the label, because not all do. Fetal brain development depends on maternal thyroid hormone, which requires iodine - mild maternal deficiency has been linked in the ALSPAC cohort (Bath 2013, Lancet) to lower verbal IQ in the child at age 8-9.

Is Iodoral or Lugol's safe at 12.5 mg/day?

For most people, this dose is not supported by evidence and carries meaningful risk. A 12.5 mg Iodoral tablet is roughly 83 times the 150 mcg adult RDA and over 10 times the 1,100 mcg/day tolerable upper limit set by the Institute of Medicine. The Brownstein protocol's rationale is that population iodine intake has fallen and megadoses correct a hidden epidemic; the evidence base for this is clinical observation, not randomized trials. The downside is documented: large iodine loads can trigger transient or persistent hypothyroidism (Wolff-Chaikoff effect, Markou 2001), precipitate hyperthyroidism in people with nodular goiter (Jod-Basedow), and worsen or unmask Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroiditis (Leung 2014, Nature Reviews Endocrinology). If you want to try megadose iodine, do it only under physician supervision with baseline and follow-up urinary iodine, TSH, free T4, and TPO antibody testing. Most people should stop at 150-300 mcg/day.

Will iodine help my Hashimoto's?

Probably not, and it may make it worse. Iodine is a substrate for thyroid hormone, but in Hashimoto's, the problem is autoimmune attack on the thyroid gland, not iodine substrate scarcity. Excess iodine is a documented environmental trigger for Hashimoto's onset and progression in susceptible individuals (Leung 2014; Katagiri 2017). The trace mineral with positive Hashimoto's trial data is selenium - 200 mcg/day of selenomethionine reduces TPO antibodies in multiple RCTs. Stay at the 150 mcg iodine RDA from diet and any prenatal-style supplement, and discuss anything above that with your endocrinologist.

Is kelp a reliable iodine source?

Less reliable than potassium iodide. Kelp iodine content varies enormously batch-to-batch and species-to-species - the literature reports anywhere from 50 mcg to over 2,000 mcg per gram of dried kelp. A label claim of '150 mcg from kelp' is an estimate based on assayed lots, not a guarantee. For supplemental iodine where dose precision matters (pregnancy, documented deficiency, anyone counting micrograms), potassium iodide is the better choice. Kelp is fine as a generic insurance dose for someone who otherwise gets little iodine, but do not stack multiple kelp products or assume label dose is exact.

What is nascent iodine and is it better?

Nascent iodine is a marketing term for iodine solutions made by electrically dissociating I2 molecules into a 'monatomic' or 'pre-atomic' state, supposedly making it more bioavailable. The chemistry claim does not survive contact with how iodine actually behaves in solution and in the gut - dissolved iodine equilibrates rapidly regardless of starting form. There is no peer-reviewed trial showing nascent iodine outperforms potassium iodide on any thyroid endpoint. It is not inherently bad as an iodine source, but the premium price and the bioavailability claim are not supported by evidence. Potassium iodide costs less and has the trial record.

How do I know if I am iodine-deficient?

Spot urinary iodine concentration is the standard population-level marker; for an individual, a 24-hour urine iodine collection is more accurate. WHO criteria classify adequate non-pregnant adult iodine status as urinary iodine 100-299 mcg/L; below 100 mcg/L is mild-to-moderate deficiency. In pregnancy the adequate range is 150-249 mcg/L. Symptoms of overt deficiency - goiter, fatigue, cold intolerance, weight gain, dry skin, brain fog - overlap entirely with hypothyroidism from any cause, so symptoms alone are not diagnostic. If you are concerned, urinary iodine testing and a TSH check via your physician are the right starting point, not empirical megadose iodine.

Can iodine and selenium be taken together?

Yes, and they work together physiologically. Iodine is the substrate for thyroid hormone synthesis; selenium-dependent deiodinase enzymes convert T4 to active T3, and selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase protects the thyroid gland from the oxidative stress of hormone production. In iodine deficiency combined with selenium deficiency, thyroid damage is worse than with either deficiency alone. For practical supplementation: 150 mcg iodine and 100-200 mcg selenomethionine is a reasonable pairing for someone with documented or suspected dual insufficiency. Do not stack high-dose iodine and high-dose selenium - both have U-shaped dose-response curves and the toxic ceiling is closer than the deficient floor.

Related Reading

Sources

  1. Alexander EK, Pearce EN, Brent GA, et al. 2017 Guidelines of the American Thyroid Association for the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Disease During Pregnancy and the Postpartum. Thyroid. 2017;27(3):315-389.
  2. Zimmermann MB, Jooste PL, Pandav CS. Iodine-deficiency disorders. Lancet. 2008;372(9645):1251-1262.
  3. Zimmermann MB. Iodine deficiency. Endocr Rev. 2009;30(4):376-408.
  4. Bath SC, Steer CD, Golding J, Emmett P, Rayman MP. Effect of inadequate iodine status in UK pregnant women on cognitive outcomes in their children: results from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Lancet. 2013;382(9889):331-337.
  5. Dineva M, Fishpool H, Rayman MP, Mendis J, Bath SC. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of iodine supplementation on thyroid function and child neurodevelopment in mildly-to-moderately iodine-deficient pregnant women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2020;112(2):389-412.
  6. Ghent WR, Eskin BA, Low DA, Hill LP. Iodine replacement in fibrocystic disease of the breast. Can J Surg. 1993;36(5):453-460.
  7. Kessler JH. The effect of supraphysiologic levels of iodine on patients with cyclic mastalgia. Breast J. 2004;10(4):328-336.
  8. Markou K, Georgopoulos N, Kyriazopoulou V, Vagenakis AG. Iodine-induced hypothyroidism. Thyroid. 2001;11(5):501-510.
  9. Leung AM, Braverman LE. Consequences of excess iodine. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2014;10(3):136-142.
  10. Leung AM, Braverman LE. Iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2012;19(5):414-419.
  11. Katagiri R, Yuan X, Kobayashi S, Sasaki S. Effect of excess iodine intake on thyroid diseases in different populations: A systematic review and meta-analyses including observational studies. PLoS One. 2017;12(3):e0173722.
  12. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Iodine Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated 2024.

FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products discussed on this page are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.