Iodine

What is Iodine?

• Iodine is an essential trace element in our body.• Essential trace elements are elements our body needs to function

properly but are needed in very small amounts, typically less than 5 milligrams

• It can mostly be found within our thyroid gland and during our body’s synthesis of thyroid hormones.

Why is Iodine Important?

• Iodine is important for our body because it is a component of thyroid hormones• These hormones help to regulate out body temperature and our

metabolic rate• A recent release of information from the Council for Responsible

Nutrition has shown that Iodine is critical in fetal development and during breastfeeding• During the early stages of pregnancy, adequate iodine and folic acid intake is

crucial to ensure the brain and any neurocognitive development occurs normally.

Iodine and Prenatal health

• The Council for Responsible Nutrition has released new recommended guidelines for iodine intake for pregnant and lactating women.• Currently there is a worldwide mild iodine deficiency in women• In the U.S. about 15 to 20% of pregnant or lactating women take a

supplement containing adequate iodine• It is now recommended that pregnant and lactating women or

women who plan to or can be pregnant in the future intake 150 mcg of iodine.

• Iodine has been found to be similar to folic acid in that it aids in the development of the during the first few months of pregnancy and fetal development.

What Happens When We Are Deficient in Iodine?• A deficiency of Iodine leads to three major disorders or

problems in the body: hypothyroidism, goiter and cretinism• Hypothyroidism

• When there is decreased production and secretion of thyroid hormone in the body. This can lead to the disease Goiter and other medical problems like weight gain and slow mental responsiveness

• Goiter• When our body exhausts the amount of iodine in our bodies the pituitary gland

begins to increase its activity. This increase of activity causes the gland to enlarge, leading to Goiter

• Cretinism• Cretinism is a birth defect that happens in infants who’s mother’s were severely

deficient in iodine. This defect causes major intellectual impairments in children and is irreversible.

Watson Products Containing Iodine• Potassium Iodide, 2% Iodine

• Potassium Iodide, 2% Iodine on Dicalcium Phosphate

• Potassium Iodide, 2% Iodine on MCC

Want More Information?Watson Inc.301 Heffernan DriveWest Haven CT

Contact:203-932-3000800-388-3481

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