Vegan Health ArticlesIodine Deficiency Reported in Vegetarians and Vegans
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From Michael Greger, M.D.
http://www.veganMD.org

Last month [Oct 2003], yet another article appeared on iodine deficiency in vegetarians and vegans [1]. Quoting from the paper: "One fourth of the vegetarians and 80% of the vegans suffer from iodine deficiency..." Only 9% of the meateaters were deficient. The milk drinkers were protected in part because iodine containing disinfectants are used to clean the milk processing equipment which kind of leach into the milk. None of the vegetarians and vegans were eating sea vegetables.  And none were using iodized salt--they were all using "natural" sea salt, which has significantly less iodine. Iodine deficiency was actually a prevalent problem in the U.S. before the iodization of salt became a common practice in the 1920's.[2]  

So, vegetarians who don't eat sea vegetables or use iodized salt should consider supplementing their diet with iodine. I don't encourage people to add salt to their diet--it's not good for your bones--but if you do use table salt, use iodized salt. For more information, see the British Vegan Society's iodine page. The best source, though, is sea vegetables (seaweed).  

Sea vegetables have lots of B vitamins and lots of minerals, particularly the trace minerals, like iodine. The only problem with seaweed is that you can actually get too much iodine. The World Health Organization places the safe upper limit of iodine intake at 1000 mcg per day. And it's less for kids-like 300 mcg may be too much for a five year old.  See my handout on nutrients for the amounts found in common seaweeds.

References:

[1] Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism 47(2003):183

[2] Journal of the American Dietetics Association 79(1981):17.


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We began this archive as a means of assisting our visitors in answering many of their health and diet questions, and in encouraging them to take a pro-active part in their own health. We believe the articles and information contained herein are true, but are not presenting them as advice. We, personally, have found that a whole food vegan diet has helped our own health, and simply wish to share with others the things we have found. Each of us must make our own decisions, for it's our own body. If you have a health problem, see your own physician.