Rankings / Base — Vitamins & Minerals
Iodine
Base · Mineral
Tier A-
What this is
Both deficiency and excess cause thyroid dysfunction — narrow therapeutic window. Severe deficiency in pregnancy causes cretinism. Mild-moderate deficiency still common outside iodized-salt regions.
Mechanism
Substrate for thyroid hormones T3/T4 — required for metabolism, neurodevelopment, and thyroid function
Dose & route
150 mcg/day adults; 250 mcg during pregnancy/lactation; via iodized salt, seaweed, dairy, or supplement
Citations
- https://www.who.int/data/nutrition/nlis/info/iodine-deficiency
- https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11999837/
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This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.