Food Sources

Seafood, seaweed, and dairy products are high in iodine content. Iodized table salt is a primary source in the diet. The iodine content in plant foods is dependent on the iodine content of the soil.

Figure %: Iodine Content of Selected Foods

Supplementation

Iodine supplementation is mainly used for the prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency. Increased consumption of iodine has been associated with acne-like skin eruptions. The tolerance for high levels of iodine is quite high; meaning iodine toxicity is low. Excessive intake has been reported to be 2000 mcg/day, but some coastal Japanese populations consuming large amounts of seaweed have intakes of 50,000 to 80,000 mcg/day without ill effects.