Iodine is an essential mineral for the body, as it performs the functions of:
- Prevent thyroid problems such as hyperthyroidism, goiter and cancer; Prevent infertility in women as it maintains adequate production of thyroid hormones; Prevent prostate, breast, uterus and ovarian cancer; Prevent increased blood pressure in pregnant women; Prevent mental deficiencies in the fetus; prevent diseases such as diabetes, heart problems and infarction; fight infections caused by fungi and bacteria.
In addition, iodine creams can be applied to the skin to fight and prevent infections, improve the healing of mouth sores during chemotherapy and treat wounds and ulcers in diabetics.
Recommended quantity
The recommended amount of iodine per day varies according to age, as shown in the following table:
| Age | Amount of iodine |
| 0 to 6 months | 110 mcg |
| 7 to 12 months | 130 mcg |
| 1 to 8 years | 90 mcg |
| 9 to 13 years | 120 mcg |
| 14 years or older | 150 mcg |
| Pregnant women | 220 mcg |
| Breastfeeding women | 290 mcg |
Iodine supplementation should always be done under medical guidance, and is usually recommended in cases of iodine deficiency, goiter, hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. See What to eat to regulate the thyroid.
Side effects and contraindications
In general, iodine is safe for health, but excess amounts of iodine can cause nausea, stomach pain, headache, runny nose and diarrhea. In more sensitive people, it can cause lip swelling, fever, joint pain, itching, bleeding and death.
Thus, iodine supplementation should not exceed 1100 mcg per day in adult adults, and smaller doses should be given to babies and children, and should only be done according to medical advice.
Iodine-rich foods
The following table shows foods rich in iodine and the amount of this mineral in 100g of each food.
| Food (100g) | Iodine (mcg) | Food (100g) | Iodine (mcg) |
| Mackerel | 170 | Codfish | 110 |
| Salmon | 71.3 | milk | 23.3 |
| Egg | 130.5 | Shrimp | 41.3 |
| Canned tuna | 14 | Liver | 14.7 |
In addition to these foods, salt in Brazil is enriched with iodine, a measure that helps prevent deficiencies in this nutrient and health problems such as goiter.
See 7 Signs that you may be having thyroid problems to start treatment quickly.
