Recent research has highlighted the re-emergence of iodine deficiency, especially in developed countries, where dietary patterns and food manufacturing practices have led to declining iodine intake.
Although most people are still getting enough, researchers have increasingly been reporting low levels of iodine in pregnant women and other people, raising concerns about an impact on their newborns.
Although a number of foods contain iodine, a key factor is how easily our bodies can extract it from the food. This is known as its ‘bioavailability’. This can be measured in the urine.
Iodine is an essential element for humans: it helps the thyroid produce hormones that regulate the metabolism, crucial for nutrition and cognitive development. It's especially key for babies.