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Iodine Absorption – How the Body Absorbs Iodine

Iodine absorption refers to the uptake of iodine from food into the bloodstream. It occurs mainly in the small intestine and is essential for proper thyroid gland function.

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Things worth knowing about "Iodine Absorption"

Iodine absorption refers to the uptake of iodine from food into the bloodstream. It occurs mainly in the small intestine and is essential for proper thyroid gland function.

What Is Iodine Absorption?

Iodine absorption describes the biological process by which iodine (chemical symbol: I) is taken up from food or dietary supplements through the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream. Iodine is an essential trace element that the human body cannot produce on its own and must therefore obtain regularly through diet.

Mechanism of Iodine Absorption

In food, iodine is predominantly present in the form of iodide (I⁻). After ingestion, it is partially released in the stomach and then passes into the small intestine, where the majority of absorption takes place. Uptake occurs through active transport mechanisms as well as passive diffusion across the intestinal mucosa into the bloodstream.

In the blood, iodine is bound to plasma proteins and transported to the thyroid gland.
The thyroid takes up iodine actively via the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS).
There, iodine is used to synthesize the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).

Factors Influencing Iodine Absorption

The efficiency of iodine absorption can be affected by various factors:

Promoting Factors

Adequate stomach acid facilitates the release of iodine from food.
A healthy intestinal mucosa ensures optimal uptake.

Inhibiting Factors

Goitrogenic substances: Certain foods such as cabbage, soy, and rapeseed contain so-called goitrogens, which can inhibit iodine uptake into the thyroid gland.
Selenium and iron deficiency: Deficiencies in these trace elements can impair iodine metabolism.
Nitrates and perchlorate: These compounds compete with iodide for the sodium-iodide symporter and can reduce uptake.
Gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn's disease or celiac disease may reduce absorption.

Importance for the Body

Adequate iodine absorption is critical for the production of thyroid hormones, which regulate numerous bodily functions:

Regulation of metabolism (basal metabolic rate)
Support of growth and development, especially in infants and children
Regulation of body temperature
Function of the nervous system and cardiac activity

Iodine Absorption and Iodine Deficiency

If iodine absorption is persistently insufficient – for example due to a low-iodine diet or impaired absorption – iodine deficiency can develop. This is one of the most common preventable nutritional deficiencies worldwide. Consequences of iodine deficiency include:

Goiter: Enlargement of the thyroid gland as a compensatory response
Hypothyroidism: Underactive thyroid with symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and cold sensitivity
Developmental disorders in unborn and newborn children (cretinism in extreme cases)

Daily Requirements and Sources

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other health authorities recommend the following daily iodine intake:

Adults: 150 micrograms (µg) per day
Pregnant women: 200 µg per day
Breastfeeding women: 200 µg per day

Good dietary sources of iodine include saltwater fish (e.g., cod, haddock), seafood, iodized table salt, and milk and dairy products.

References

World Health Organization (WHO): Iodine Deficiency Disorders. WHO Global Database on Iodine Deficiency, Geneva (2023).
Zimmermann MB, Boelaert K: Iodine deficiency and thyroid disorders. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 3(4):286-295 (2015).
Pearce EN, Andersson M, Zimmermann MB: Global iodine nutrition: Where do we stand in 2013? Thyroid, 23(5):523-528 (2013).

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