Team Vitamineule
Questions, wishes or suggestions? Simply contact us by e-mail or on Facebook.
Surely you have heard of iodine in the field of medicine. It is an important trace element. If there were no iodine, the production of the essential thyroid hormones in our body would not be possible. In this blog you can learn more about the daily iodine requirement, the tasks of iodine and how you can counteract an iodine deficiency.
1. what is iodine?
Iodine is a natural trace element, more precisely a mineral, which is essential for the human organism. It occurs in the body in very small quantities only and must be taken in with food, as it cannot be produced by the metabolism itself. However, the thyroid gland can store small amounts of the trace element and access it when needed.
2 Which tasks does iodine perform in the body?
The best known effect of iodine is to support thyroid function and the production of thyroid hormones. The two hormones thyroxine (T3) and triiodothyronine (T4) influence the energy metabolism, growth and development of the brain. A growth retardation can be attributed to an iodine deficiency. Iodine is essential for a healthy mental and physical development of babies. Therefore, during pregnancy, great care should be taken to ensure that the mother and child are supplied with sufficient iodine. Iodine plays a decisive role in neutralising free radicals and limiting damage from radioactive radiation. The immune system needs iodine to fight viruses, bacteria and fungi. Besides the thyroid gland, iodine is present in small amounts in the eyes, salivary glands, bile and muscles. Iodine is used in medicine as an X-ray control agent and thyroid medication.
3. the daily iodine requirement
Iodine deficiency is one of the most common deficiencies. In Germany about 30% of the population suffer from a deficiency of this trace element. The iodine requirement of the human organism is determined by the thyroid hormone production. In general, the requirement depends on various factors: age, sex, weight, height and metabolic situation. The German Society for Nutrition (DGE) recommends a daily intake of 180-200 micrograms of iodine for adults. For a small child, the recommended amounts of iodine are naturally lower. However, the daily dose increases if one does a lot of sport, as iodine is excreted through sweat. The recommended daily intake of iodine for pregnant and breastfeeding women is about 230 µg.
4. development of an iodine deficiency
Iodine deficiency is one of the most common deficiency diseases and can have various causes. An unbalanced diet can easily lead to a deficiency. If this is caused by too little iodine in the diet, this can lead to a low blood concentration of thyroid hormones. Vegetarians and vegans in particular find it difficult to consume sufficient iodine-rich food, as iodine is mostly found in fish and shrimp. It should also not be forgotten that a deficiency can have a genetic cause, such as a congenital intestinal absorption disorder. If a deficiency is suspected, you should always consult a doctor of your choice and explain the symptoms (if any) to him. He will most likely indicate a change in diet, which means that more foods containing iodine should be consumed. In addition, dietary supplements can help.
5. symptoms and effects of iodine deficiency
- unexplained chronic fatigue
- frequent inflammations
- Goiter formation, enlargement of the thyroid gland
- malformations, miscarriages
- Hypothyroidism
- cyst formation (in the breast or uterus)
- very dry skin
- Heart rhythm disorders
- Loss of concentration, - or memory
- a weak stomach acid production
- Cramps (possibly also magnesium deficiency)
6. which foods contain particularly high levels of iodine?
Iodine is mainly found in the oceans, so foods that come from the sea contain a high amount of iodine. Plant foods that grow on the soil tend to be low in iodine and contain only small amounts of the trace element. In order to maintain an adequate iodine supply, the DGE (German Society for Nutrition) recommends eating sea fish twice a week.
Foods with high iodine content: (data in µ/100g)
- iodised table salt approx. 2000
- Sea salt approx. 50
- Haddock approx. 300
- mussels, prawns approx. 130
- Cod approx. 150
- Saithe approx. 100
- Redfish ca. 90
- Herring approx. 50
- Tuna approx. 50
- Sole approx. 20
- Champinions approx. 5
- milk approx. 8
- eggs approx. 8
7. iodine in pregnancy
Iodine is essential for a healthy mental and physical development of the baby. Especially for bone formation, brain development and growth. Therefore, during pregnancy, great care should be taken to ensure that the mother and baby are supplied with sufficient iodine. This is important because pregnant women need an increased amount of iodine. The recommended daily intake of iodine is approx. 230µ for pregnant women and approx. 230µ for breastfeeding women. The unborn child cannot absorb the thyroid hormone produced by the mother, but must produce it in its own thyroid gland. The iodine requirement should be covered sufficiently by food containing iodine. Food supplements can also be taken to cover the additional requirement.
8. iodine capsules or iodine tablets
Iodine can be purchased in the form of capsules or tablets. Iodine tablets are often sold in pharmacies or drugstores. However, in many cases these have been produced with artificial additives or in other European countries. Iodine Capsules on the other hand contain only the active ingredient in a vegetable cellulose shell and can be produced without fillers. It is also important that the preparation is manufactured in Germany in order to ensure a consistently high preparation quality. to ensure that
9. What is kelb extract?
Kelb is an algae that prefers cooler regions and is therefore more common in the North Pacific. The size of the seaweed is between 30 and 50 cm. Kelb contains many of the trace elements needed in the body. Especially the high iodine content makes the alga so interesting. The kelp extract is said to have a detoxifying effect.
Our recommendation:
Vitamineule® Iodine Capsules
In our online shop you will find our iodine capsules from Vitamineule®, which are completely free of artificial additives.
The iodine capsules contain a total of 80mg pure kelp extract with 400 µg iodine per capsule. Each can contains 90 capsules. In addition to fast & free shipping, we offer a voluntary six-month return guarantee for all products.
10. conclusion
Iodine is a trace element which the human organism needs for the production of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T3) and triiodothyronine (T4). As iodine is essential for the healthy mental and physical development of a baby, pregnant women in particular should ensure that both the mother and the unborn child are supplied with sufficient iodine. The baby is not able to take over the hormones produced by the mother, but has to produce the hormones in its own thyroid gland. Since the body cannot produce iodine itself, it must be supplied through the diet. Iodine is absorbed from the intestines, enters the bloodstream and is largely stored in the thyroid gland. The most important tasks of iodine are to support thyroid function and the production of thyroid hormones. These influence the energy metabolism, growth and development of the brain. In order to counteract an iodine deficiency, care should be taken to eat enough food containing iodine. Foods that contain high amounts of iodine are mainly fish and shrimps. Alternatively, you can take iodine capsules or iodine tablets with kelp extract to counteract a deficiency quickly and effectively.