Iodine is a trace element and an essential chemical found in the human body. Your body requires iodine for the proper functioning of your thyroid hormones. Dietary sources of iodine include salt, sea vegetables, yogurt, cow's milk, eggs, strawberries and mozzarella cheese. You can also take iodine in supplement form. However, you should speak with a medical professional prior to taking an iodine supplement.
Iodine in the Human Body
Iodine is required by your body for the synthesis of the thyroid hormones thyroxine, also known as T4, and triiodothyronine, also known as T3. According to "Iodine: Why You Need it, Why You Can't Live Without It," the normal content of iodine in your body is 20 to 30 mg. Your thyroid gland, located in the front of your neck, around the Adam's apple and under the voice box, contains most of the iodine in your body. Your lactating mammary glands, stomach lining, salivary glands and blood contain the rest of the iodine in your body.
Iodine Outside the Thyroid Gland
Iodine not only helps your body produce T3 and T4 but also functions as an antibacterial in your body. As an antibacterial, iodine is also commonly used as a skin disinfectant and in water purification. According to "Comprehensive Handbook of Iodine: Nutritional, Biochemical, Pathological and Therapeutic Aspects," iodine can also help in the prevention of fibrocystic breast disease, a disorder characterized by painful swelling in your breasts, by modulating the effects of the hormone estrogen on your breast tissue. Additionally, an iodine deficiency in your body can impair the function of your immune system.
Low Levels of Iodine
Low levels of iodine in your body can cause goiter, a disorder causing an enlargement of your thyroid gland. This enlargement results from the overstimulation of the thyroid gland by the thyroid-stimulating hormone. Iodine deficiency can also lead to hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, weight gain, weakness and depression. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include weight loss, rapid heartbeat and appetite fluctuations. Hypothyroidism in newborns can also cause severe mental retardation, stunted physical growth, deafness and spasticity.
High Levels of Iodine
High levels of iodine can inhibit the production of your thyroid hormones and lead to hypothyroidism. It can also lead to hyperthyroidism because of the overstimulation of the thyroid gland in an effort to produce T3 and T4 hormones. Therefore, both low levels and high levels of iodine in your body can cause hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Additionally, high levels of iodine can cause thyroid papillary cancer and iodermia, a severe skin disorder. Excessive iodine that results from an overdose of more than 1 g of iodine can cause burning in your mouth, throat and abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weak pulse and coma.
References
- "Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It" David Brownstein; 2009
- "Comprehensive Handbook of Iodine: Nutritional, Biochemical, Pathological and Therapeutic Aspects"; Victor R. Preedy, gerard N. Burrow MD and Ronald Ross Waston; 2009
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