Iodine Is Necessary For All Ages

Iodine is a vital trace mineral that we need. It is an essential nutrient that helps with the function of the thyroid which helps with metabolism, growth, and development. Since it is just a trace mineral you don’t need much iodine. It is important that babies in the womb, and newborn infants have proper iodine intake to help with proper fetal growth, infant growth, and brain development.

Recommended Daily Values

Iodine is found naturally in the sea and some soils. It is also found in some foods such as fish, prawns, seaweed, and dairy. Iodine is also added to salt and commercially baked breads. You can normally get your daily amount of needed iodine from the foods you consume. Iodine can be found in supplements, or prenatal vitamins.

These are the recommended levels of iodine for different ages; infant to 6 month olds need 110 mcg, 7 months to 12 months need 130 mcg, one to eight year olds need 90 mcg, nine to thirteen year olds need 120 mcg, fourteen to eighteen year olds need 150 mcg. During pregnancy a woman needs 220 mcg, and during the time a woman breastfeeds her baby she needs 290 mcg.

Infants and Iodine

Infants receive iodine from their mother’s breast milk. The iodine they receive during this part helps the development of the baby’s brain and nervous systems. Infant formulas in the United States are regulated by the FDA to be required to have a certain amount of iodine. Specific amounts can vary per formula but the amount should be clearly marked on the label. Amounts can vary from 5-75 mcg depending on the type of formula. A deficiency in the mother can lead there to not be enough iodine in the breast milk to help the baby. This deficiency can lead to problems with the pregnancy, or the growth and development of the baby after the baby is born.

Iodine and Your Thyroid

Iodine is important for the function of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland works extra hard during pregnancy. It helps with the baby’s growth and development of the brain and nervous system, as well as continues to help the mother’s thyroid function properly. Iodine deficiency can happen at any stage in life. A woman who is pregnant or breastfeeding is at higher risk of becoming deficient. Especially if they smoke cigarettes, do not regularly consume dairy products, or seafood, if they do not use iodized salt, or eat foods with goitrogens. Goitrogens affect how the thyroid gland functions. Foods that contain goitrogens are brussel sprouts, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, and broccoli. Deficiency in women who are pregnant can lead to miscarriage, still birth, or intellectual deficiencies in the baby.

Iodine Toxicity

You can also over consume iodine. If you have too much iodine in your system it can lead to iodine toxicity. Symptoms of iodine toxicity include nausea, vomiting, weak pulse, and delirium. Hyperthyroidism can also occur with too much iodine in your system. Hyperthyroidism is when your thyroid gland is overactive. Goiters can also occur from too much iodine, or from hyperthyroidism. A goiter is when your thyroid gland becomes enlarged. Symptoms of a goiter are swelling in the neck, discomfort in the neck, difficulty swallowing, coughing, breathing difficulties, and dizziness. Not all goiters cause symptoms. You may also increase your risk of thyroid cancer by over consuming iodine. Over consumption is hard to do just from food. It is more likely for you to over consume iodine from supplements, medicines, or having a sensitivity to iodine.

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Conclusion

Iodine is an essential trace mineral that everyone needs to help with proper thyroid function. Infants need iodine just like everyone else. They will usually get iodine from their mother’s breast milk, or formula. Iodine deficiencies can lead to pregnancy complications, or growth and development complications. You can get iodine from food. To make sure you are getting enough iodine it is best to try to cook with iodized salt, eat seafood a couple times a week, have some source of dairy like yogurt as well as add in some other foods that contain iodine such as seaweed, nori, or kelp. If you think you could be deficient speak with your doctor about adding a supplement to make sure you are getting the daily amount of iodine needed for you especially if you are pregnant or breast feeding.