Iodine Health Dictionary

Trace element. RDA 0.14 to 0.15mg.

Deficiency. Goitre, low metabolism, fatigue, sleepiness.

Body effects. Promotes thyroid hormones.

Sources. Seafood, meat, fruit and vegetables.

Herbs: Bladderwrack, Dulse, Garlic, Kelp, Iceland Moss, Irish Moss.

Iodine status check. Paint a small (about 2”) patch of tincture of Iodine on the inside of the thigh before going to bed. Allow to dry. It should be yellowish-orange. Next morning check results:–

1. Colour completely gone: significant shortage of iodine.

2. Colour barely detectable: shortage of iodine.

3. Colour slightly faded: adequate iodine.

4. Colour almost as strong: adequate iodine.

5. Colour turns red: indicates chemical sensitivities helped by Selenium supplementation.

6. Colour turns black: associated with food sensitivities.

7. Colour stays for several days: indicates iodine excess.

(Dr Robert Erdmann, PhD., ‘Balance your Metabolism with Iodine’, in “Here’s Health”, Nov 1991) 

An element essential for formation of the thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), which control the rate of metabolism (internal chemistry) and growth and development. Dietary shortage may lead to goitre or hypothyroidism. Deficiency in the newborn can, if left untreated, lead to cretinism. Shortages are very rare in developed countries due to bread and table salt being fortified with iodide or iodate. Radioactive iodine is sometimes used to reduce thyroid gland activity in cases of thyrotoxicosis and in the treatment of thyroid cancer. Iodine compounds are used as antiseptics, in radiopaque contrast media in some X-ray procedures (see imaging techniques), and in some cough remedies.

A non-metallic element which is found largely in seaweed. The body contains about 30 mg, largely concentrated in the THYROID GLAND where it is used to synthesise thyroid hormones. Iodine has a highly irritating action and, when applied to the skin, stains the latter dark brown and causes it to peel o? in ?akes, while internally it is a violent irritant poison in large doses.

Externally iodine is used as an antiseptic. Its drawback is that it is ?xed by protein, which reduces its antiseptic e?ciency in open wounds. Its main use in this sphere therefore is for sterilising the unbroken skin, as before an operation. Radioactive iodine is used for diagnosing and treating disease of the thyroid gland.

n. an element required in small amounts for healthy growth and development. An adult body contains about 30 mg of iodine, mostly concentrated in the thyroid gland: this gland requires iodine to synthesize *thyroid hormones. A deficiency of iodine in adults leads to *goitre and in a fetus leads to *cretinism. The RNI (see Dietary Reference Values) is 140 ?g/day; dietary sources include seafood, vegetables grown in soil containing iodide, and iodized table salt. Iodine is used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the thyroid gland (see Lugol’s solution; radioactive iodine therapy) and also as an antiseptic and skin disinfectant (in the form of povidone-iodine). Water-soluble contrast media used in X-ray examinations are organic chemicals containing iodine, which is radiopaque due to its high atomic weight. Symbol: I.