An essential trace mineral required to make thyroid hormones.
Iodine is a trace mineral your thyroid needs to make thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism, growth, and development. Your body cannot make iodine, so it must come from the diet, mainly from iodised salt, dairy, fish, and seafood.
Because most iodine that the body does not use is passed in urine, iodine status is usually assessed from a urine sample rather than blood.
Iodine is essential for thyroid hormones, and both too little and too much can disturb thyroid function. Low intake can lead to goitre and, in pregnancy, can affect the baby's brain development. Adequate iodine is therefore especially important before and during pregnancy.
Because urinary iodine varies with recent intake and fluid balance, a single result is a snapshot rather than a fixed level. It is best interpreted alongside thyroid markers and your wider clinical picture.
Aniva reads your result against research-backed ranges, not just the lab's wide normal. The reference shown below is specific to this biomarker.
Usually measured as urinary iodine concentration. The WHO classifies population iodine status as follows. Individual values vary with recent intake and hydration.
| Status | Urinary iodine |
|---|---|
| Insufficient | Below 100 µg/L |
| Adequate | 100 to 199 µg/L |
| Above requirements | 200 to 299 µg/L |
| Excessive | 300 µg/L or above |
In pregnancy, an adequate range of 150 to 249 µg/L is used. Confirm the exact reference with the reporting laboratory.
You learn whether your iodine intake appears adequate, insufficient, or above requirements. Urinary iodine reflects recent intake. It is most informative at the population level, but for an individual it gives a useful snapshot, especially during pregnancy when needs are higher.
Urinary iodine varies with recent diet and hydration, so a single spot sample is a snapshot, not a stable level. Recent intake of iodine-rich foods, supplements, or iodinated contrast agents can raise values substantially. Population cutoffs do not translate directly to individual diagnosis.
Read alongside thyroid markers such as TSH, free T4, and where relevant thyroid antibodies, plus your dietary and pregnancy context.
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