University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Food Science and Human Nutrition Program and Human Nutrition Program
Recall the discovery of iodine and its use as a means of preventing goiter, a gross enlargement of the thyroid gland in the neck. Iodine is essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormone, which regulates basal metabolism, growth, and development. Low iodine levels and consequently hypothyroidism has many signs and symptoms including fatigue, sensitivity to cold, constipation, weight gain, depression, and dry, itchy skin and paleness. The development of goiter may often be the most visible sign of chronic iodine deficiency, but the consequences of low levels of thyroid hormone can be severe during infancy, childhood, and adolescence as it affects all stages of growth and development. Thyroid hormone plays a major role in brain development and growth and fetuses and infants with severe iodine deficiency develop a condition known as cretinism, in which physical and neurological impairment can be severe. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates iodine deficiency affects over two billion people worldwide and it is the number-one cause of preventable brain damage worldwide.[1]
Figure 11.5 Deaths Due to Iodine Deficiency Worldwide in 2012
Figure 11.6 Iodine Deficiency: Goiter
Dietary Reference Intakes for Iodine
Table 11.8 Dietary Reference Intakes for Iodine
| Age Group | RDA Males and Females mcg/day | UL |
| Infants (0–6 months) | 110* | |
| Infants (7–12 months) | 130* | |
| Children (1–3 years) | 90 | 200 |
| Children (4–8 years) | 120 | 300 |
| Children (9–13 years) | 150 | 600 |
| Adolescents (14–18 years) | 150 | 900 |
| Adults (> 19 years) | 150 | 1,100 |
| *denotes Adequate Intake |
Health Professional Fact Sheet: Iodine. National Institute of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/. Updated June 24, 2011. Accessed November 10, 2017.
Dietary Sources of Iodine
The mineral content of foods is greatly affected by the soil from which it grew, and thus geographic location is the primary determinant of the mineral content of foods. For instance, iodine comes mostly from seawater so the greater the distance from the sea the lesser the iodine content in the soil.
Table 11.9 Iodine Content of Various Foods
| Food | Serving | Iodine (mcg) | Percent Daily Value |
| Seaweed | 1 g. | 16 to 2,984 | 11 to 1,989 |
| Cod fish | 3 oz. | 99 | 66 |
| Yogurt, low fat | 8 oz. | 75 | 50 |
| Iodized salt | 1.5 g. | 71 | 47 |
| Milk, reduced fat | 8 oz. | 56 | 37 |
| Ice cream, chocolate | ½ c. | 30 | 20 |
| Egg | 1 large | 24 | 16 |
| Tuna, canned | 3 oz. | 17 | 11 |
| Prunes, dried | 5 prunes | 13 | 9 |
| Banana | 1 medium | 3 | 2 |
Health Professional Fact Sheet: Iodine. National Institute of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/. Updated June 24, 2011. Accessed November 10, 2017.
Learning Activities
Technology Note: The second edition of the Human Nutrition Open Educational Resource (OER) textbook features interactive learning activities. These activities are available in the web-based textbook and not available in the downloadable versions (EPUB, Digital PDF, Print_PDF, or Open Document).
Learning activities may be used across various mobile devices, however, for the best user experience it is strongly recommended that users complete these activities using a desktop or laptop computer and in Google Chrome.
- World Health Organization. “Iodine Status Worldwide.” Accessed October 2, 2011. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2004/9241592001.pdf. ↵
An enlarged thyroid gland caused by a deficiency in iodine.
A gland located in the neck that produces both thyroid hormone and calcitonin.
Hormones that are produced by the thyroid gland and regulate metabolic rate.
The entire biochemical activities of an organism.
A condition that results from poor maternal iodine intake during pregnancy and impairs the mental development and growth of the infant.
