Tag: Wolff chaikoff effect

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for iodine in adults is 1,100 micrograms (mcg) per day. A dose of 500mg, which is 500,000 mcg, is several hundred times this safe limit and is considered a dangerously high, toxic amount, not a simple daily supplement.

The human body absorbs dietary iodine with remarkable efficiency, with absorption rates typically exceeding 90% in healthy individuals. This high absorption rate is a key factor in ensuring adequate iodine is available for the body's critical functions, but it is tightly regulated to prevent excess.

While severe iodine deficiency can lead to goiter and cretinism, excessive intake from supplements can cause a cascade of adverse health effects, particularly on the thyroid gland. The body's delicate regulatory systems are designed to manage normal iodine levels, but overwhelming them with unnecessary, high doses can lead to serious dysfunction.