Iodine is an extremely important trace element in terms of health. Apart from adequate thyroid function it fulfils many other functions in the body. For women planning to have children it’s especially important to pay attention to their iodine intake because iodine deficiency during pregnancy can negatively affect the child’s mental and physical development. (1)

Does iodine deficiency only affect developing countries?

Most think that nowadays iodine deficiency only affects the population of some poorer countries where people don’t have access to enough food. However, it’s an error to assume that we no longer have to beware of this problem elsewhere.

Using iodized salt has indeed resulted in supressing the most severe forms of iodine deficiency, but for adequate supplies we need much more iodine – not to mention that many don’t even use iodized salt.

Iodine intake is critically low in developed countries as wel

In a study published in March 2021 Australian women’s iodine supplies were examined. A total of 57 women of childbearing age participated in the study out of whom 31 followed a plant-based or vegan diet and 26 a traditional diet. (2)

The result was truly devastating: neither group’s iodine level reached even the WHO specified minimum level. In the case of pregnancy both groups would be at high risk in terms of complications and birth defects caused by iodine deficiency. (1)

Iodine intake of women following a plant-based diet was somewhat lower, but both groups significantly fell short of the recommended minimum.

Iodized salt has been used in Australia for a long time, and since 2009 iodized salt has been added to white bread. However, as it transpired from the study, these strategies haven’t proved successful in improving iodine levels

Many changes thought to be healthy aggravate iodine deficiency

The iodine content of food is determined mainly by how far from the sea it originates. Thus the iodine content of most agricultural land is rather low and it’s never exactly known how much iodine is found in a particular produce. In general, we can say that foods that aren’t enriched with iodine contain hardly any.

Seafood is the richest in iodine but it’s less accessible because of its price, and besides, many don’t like it. Other foods of animal origin also contain a little iodine but not nearly in the quantity needed.

Also, these days many have replaced iodized salt with Himalayan or other types of less refined salt while they haven’t increased their iodine intake from other sources.

Supplementation is the only certain solution

Since very little iodine can be found in most foods the most practical way to provide the body’s iodine supplies is to supplement it. It’s a pipe dream to rely on rarely consumed iodized salt to provide our need, as it was also demonstrated by the above study.

No wonder iodine supplementation is advised at least for pregnant women in most countries, but unfortunately even there merely in such small quantities that’s only enough to prevent the severest iodine deficiency.