Which foods are important sources of dietary iodine?

Important sources of dietary iodine include:

• Seafood: Consuming seafood is one of the most effective ways to obtain iodine, as it is naturally found in seaweeds, oysters, and cod livers.12
• Iodized Salt: Because iodine is essential for thyroid hormone production and may be scarce in certain soils and water supplies, iodized table salt is a primary dietary source for many people.134

Iodine is an essential element that the body can only obtain through the diet. In regions where natural iodine levels in the soil and water are low, government health officials often mandate the addition of iodine to salt to prevent iodine deficiency, which can lead to conditions such as goitre and hypothyroidism.134