Iodine is an essential element needed to make thyroid hormones. It is found naturally in seafood, seaweed, and iodized salt. While iodine deficiency can cause goiter, too much iodine intake from supplements can also be harmful. Iodine is used as an antiseptic and to treat iodine deficiency. Sources of iodine include seaweed, cod, yogurt, and iodized salt. The recommended daily intake is 150 mcg for adults.

1. IODINE
19/PCSA/115 - Jenitta Frederik A H
19/PCSA/108 - Harani C S

2. IODINE
● An element in the diet that is essential for the manufacture of hormones by
the thyroid gland.
● The thyroid gland uses iodine to make thyroxine , which has four iodine
molecules attached to its structure, and triiodothyronine, which has three
iodine molecules attached.
● Iodine is found in seafood, bread, iodized salt and seaweed.

3. A BRIEF HISTORY OF IODINE
● First discovered in 1811 by a French chemist
● It Signed the “birth” of Western medicine
– The use of iodine for treating goiter was the first time that a single
element (iodine) was used to treat a specific illness (goiter)
● More than 100 years ago, iodine was called “The Universal
Medicine”
● The minimum daily dose was one drop which contained 5 mg of
diatomic iodine---33 X the RDA!

4. ● 1930’s – Iodized salt was introduced & thyroidologists began using
thyroid hormones to treat iodine deficiency and simple goiter.
● 1948 – Wolff-Chaikoff effect concluded that one must avoid inorganic
non-radioactive iodine which leads to disease “like leprosy”.
● 1960’s – Antibiotics were replacing iodine use in infectious diseases;
bronchodilators were used instead of iodine in lung patients;
antihistamines replaced iodine for relief of cold symptoms.

5. WHAT IS IODINE USED FOR?
Iodine is used to treat and prevent iodine deficiency and as an
antiseptic. For iodine deficiency it can be given by mouth or injection
into a muscles. As an antiseptic it may be used on wounds that are wet
or to disinfect the skin before surgery

6. IS IODINE HARM TO HUMAN?
Iodine has both beneficial and harmful effects on human health. Iodine is
needed by our thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones. However,
exposure to unnecessarily high levels of nonradioactive and radioactive
iodine can damage the thyroid.

7. Why Do We Need Iodine?
● Every cell in the body contains and utilizes iodine
● White blood cells cannot effectively guard against infection
without adequate amounts of iodine
● Iodine is concentrated in the glandular system
– Thyroid, breasts, salivary glands, parotid glands, pancreas,
cerebrospinal fluid, brain stomach, skin, lacrimal glands, etc.

8. Where
Does The
Iodine Go?
● Thyroid – 3% (50 mg)
● Fat (700 mg) and Muscle (650 mg) – 70%
● Skin – 20% (Helps you sweat!)
● The body can hold up to 1500 mg
● The thyroid can only hold up to 50 mg
● Iodine is needed for much more than just
prevention of goiter!

9. The foods below are excellent sources of iodine:
● Seaweed, one whole sheet dried: 11–1,989% of the RDI
● Cod, 3 ounces (85 grams): 66% of the RDI
● Yogurt, plain, 1 cup: 50% of the RDI
● Iodized salt, 1/4 teaspoon (1.5 grams): 47% of the RDI
● Shrimp, 3 ounces (85 grams): 23% of the RDI
● Egg, 1 large: 16% of the RDI
● Tuna, canned, 3 ounces (85 grams): 11% of the RDI
● Dried prunes, 5 prunes: 9% of the RDI

11. “RDA” for Iodine
● Adult male - 150 mcg/day
● Adult female - 150 mcg/day
● Pregnancy - 220 mcg/day
● Lactation -290 mcg/day

12. Why is Iodine So Beneficial?
● Elevates pH (Iodine is an alkalinizing agent) Necessary for the
production of thyroid hormones
● Necessary for the production of all the hormones of the body
(adrenals, ovaries,testicles, etc.)
● Responsible for the formation of the normal architecture of the
glandular tissue, e.g. breast, thyroid, ovary, & prostate

13. Iodine’s Curing Actions
● Antibacterial
● Anticancer
● Antiparasitic
● Antifungal
● Antiviral

14. Conditions Treated With Iodine
● Asthma
● Diabetes
● Cancer
● Headaches
● Liver Diseases
● Thyroid Disorders
● Ovarian Cysts(PCOS)

15. How Do You Ingest Iodine?
● Trace element; not common in most foods
● Ocean food
– Cod, bass, haddock, perch
– Sea vegetables such as seaweed
● Can be found in food products if iodine is added to animal feed
or the food source
● Iodized Salt
– Cost effective way to prevent goiter
– Inadequate to provide the body’s need for iodine

16. Why Are People Deficient in Iodine?
● Stigma of using salt
– Hypertension
– <50% of U.S. households use iodized salt
● Radioactive iodine use in medicine
● Chemical exposures: Goitrogens
– Bromine, chlorine, fluorine (fluoride)
– Goitrogens competitively inhibit iodine binding as well as
decrease iodine uptake

17. ● Declining mineral levels
– Soil erosion, poor farming techniques, etc.
● Modern Diet

18. TREATMENTS FOR IODINE DEFICIENCY
• Iodine deficiency is treated by ingestion of iodine salt , such as found in
food supplements.
• Mild cases may be treated by using iodized salt in daily food
consumption, or drinking more milk or eating egg yolks , and saltwater
fish.
• For a salt and / or animal products restricted diet , sea vegetables may be
incorporated regularly into a diet as a good source of iodine

19. THANKYOU!