Iodine

Iodine is an essential trace element found in marine products: cod, red and brown algae, halibut, herring, sardines, shrimp, seaweed, and is also present in iodized salt. Iodine deficiency occurs when intake is 10 μg, and the toxicity threshold is 5 mg per day. The human body contains 15–25 mg of iodine, with 50% located in the thyroid gland. Toxic dose: 2 mg, fatal dose: 35–350 g. Iodine has high physiological activity and is a necessary component of the structure of thyrotropin and thyroid hormones. They participate in regulating the rate of biochemical reactions, protein, fat and carbohydrate, water and electrolyte metabolism, energy metabolism, body temperature, tissue differentiation, growth, and the development of the body and its neuropsychic system. Human mental development is directly related to iodine. Iodine deficiency can manifest as hyposecretion of thyroid hormones, goiter formation, hypothyroidism, myxedema, cretinism, decreased intelligence, mutism, and immunodeficiency. Excess iodine can cause goiter, hyperthyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, and iododerma.