Iodine is an essential trace element needed by the body in small amounts. It is a component of thyroid hormones which regulate metabolism and body temperature. Adequate iodine intake is especially important during pregnancy and breastfeeding as it is crucial for fetal development and prevents neurological issues. Pregnant and lactating women are recommended to intake 150 mcg of iodine daily to support development during the first few months of pregnancy. A deficiency in iodine can cause hypothyroidism, goiter, and cretinism.

1. Iodine

2. What is Iodine?
• Iodine is an essential trace element in our body.
• Essential trace elements are elements our body needs to function
properly but are needed in very small amounts, typically less than 5
milligrams
• It can mostly be found within our thyroid gland and during
our body’s synthesis of thyroid hormones.

3. Why is Iodine Important?
• Iodine is important for our body because it is a component of
thyroid hormones
• These hormones help to regulate out body temperature and our
metabolic rate
• A recent release of information from the Council for Responsible
Nutrition has shown that Iodine is critical in fetal development and
during breastfeeding
• During the early stages of pregnancy, adequate iodine and folic acid intake is
crucial to ensure the brain and any neurocognitive development occurs
normally.

4. Iodine and Prenatal health
• The Council for Responsible Nutrition has released new
recommended guidelines for iodine intake for pregnant and
lactating women.
• Currently there is a worldwide mild iodine deficiency in women
• In the U.S. about 15 to 20% of pregnant or lactating women take a
supplement containing adequate iodine
• It is now recommended that pregnant and lactating women or
women who plan to or can be pregnant in the future intake 150 mcg
of iodine.
• Iodine has been found to be similar to folic acid in that it aids
in the development of the during the first few months of
pregnancy and fetal development.

5. What Happens When We Are
Deficient in Iodine?
• A deficiency of Iodine leads to three major disorders or
problems in the body: hypothyroidism, goiter and cretinism
• Hypothyroidism
• When there is decreased production and secretion of thyroid hormone in the
body. This can lead to the disease Goiter and other medical problems like
weight gain and slow mental responsiveness
• Goiter
• When our body exhausts the amount of iodine in our bodies the pituitary gland
begins to increase its activity. This increase of activity causes the gland to
enlarge, leading to Goiter
• Cretinism
• Cretinism is a birth defect that happens in infants who’s mother’s were severely
deficient in iodine. This defect causes major intellectual impairments in
children and is irreversible.

6. Watson Products Containing
Iodine
• Potassium Iodide, 2% Iodine
• Potassium Iodide, 2% Iodine on Dicalcium Phosphate
• Potassium Iodide, 2% Iodine on MCC
Want More Information?
Watson Inc.
301 Heffernan Drive
West Haven CT
Contact:
203-932-3000
800-388-3481
Online Contact Form