Medical Condition Library

Information Centers

Wellness Centers

Helpful Resources

Iodine

Home | Health Information Center | Natural & Alternative Treatments | Herbs & Supplements | Article

Introduction

Iodine is an essential nutrient. It is usually found in table salt. Iodine has been advised for pregnant women and people with thyroid problems. It has also been used to ease breast pain and for nutritional support. Iodine can be taken as a pill. It can also be applied to the skin to disinfect.

Dosages

200 micrograms once daily

What Research Shows

Unlikely to Be Effective

Preterm infants —unlikely to have benefit B1

Not Enough Data to Assess

Pregnancy supportA1-A3

Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.

Safety Notes

It is likely safe to take iodine in small doses, but nausea and stomach upset may happen. Skin irritation is possible when it is put on the skin. High doses are likely unsafe.C1

Interactions

Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.

References►

A. Pregnancy Support

A1. Zhou SJ, Anderson AJ, et al. Effect of iodine supplementation in pregnancy on child development and other clinical outcomes: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Nov;98(5):1241-1254.

A2. Harding KB, Peña-Rosas JP, et al. Iodine supplementation for women during the preconception pregnancy and postpartum period. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;3:CD011761.

A3. Farebrother J, Naude CE, et al. Effects of Iodized Salt and Iodine Supplements on Prenatal and Postnatal Growth: A Systematic Review. Adv Nutr. 2018 May 1;9(3):219-237.

B. Preterm Infants

B1. Walsh V, Brown JVE, et al. Iodine supplementation for the prevention of mortality and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019 Feb 26;2:CD005253.

C. Safety

C1. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2002. Available at: www.nap.edu/books/0309072794/html/ . Accessed October 1, 2019.

Last reviewed February 2020 by EBSCO NAT Review Board Eric Hurwitz, DC
Last Updated: 5/27/2020

EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days.