Safety · Supplement
Iodine: side effects, safety & interactions
High doses can induce thyroid dysfunction; kelp supplements deliver erratic, sometimes excessive amounts. Stay near requ
- Overall grade
- Grade B
- Last revised
- 0
- graded outcomes
- 0
- references listed
Assembled by the app from other entries in this library. It adds no evidence of its own — follow the links to the entries it draws on.
The evidence in words
Safety profile
High doses can induce thyroid dysfunction; kelp supplements deliver erratic, sometimes excessive amounts. Stay near requirements.
Interactions to respect
Levothyroxine — Alters thyroid hormone needs; coordinate with the prescriber.
What Iodine is
Iodine is the trace element the thyroid uses to build its hormones. Salt iodization solved widespread deficiency, but it re-emerges in people avoiding iodized salt, dairy, and seafood, and matters intensely in pregnancy for fetal brain development.
The honest bottom line
Use iodized salt or eat seafood/dairy; ensure adequacy in pregnancy. Don't megadose — the thyroid dislikes both extremes.
Related reading
Entries that share this one's tags or conditions.
- Choline: side effects, safety & interactionsHigh doses cause fishy odor and GI effects; very high intakes may raise TMAO.Evidence grade B
- Folate (B9): side effects, safety & interactionsSafe at typical doses. The main caution is masking B12 deficiency (see B12). Very high folic-acid intakes and unmetaboliEvidence grade A
- IodineEssential for thyroid hormone — a deficiency to prevent (iodized salt) and an excess that can itself cause thyroid trouble.Evidence grade B
- Iodine for Deficiency disorders / fetal cognitionEvidence grade A — Especially pregnancyEvidence grade A
Sources
This entry lists no references of its own — it is assembled from the entries it links to, whose sources are on their pages.
Last revised . A grade is this entry's reading of the evidence, not medical advice.