Women enjoying life, iodine hero photo

Ingredient Repository · Ingredient

Ingredient

Iodine for a healthy thyroid, delivered by live probiotics.

An essential mineral your thyroid needs to regulate energy, metabolism, and healthy baby brain development.

What it is

Iodine (as potassium iodide) is an essential trace mineral that your body cannot make on its own. In Velobiotics products like PregBiotics Conception, PregBiotics Essentials, and BioGain Probiotic Meal, potassium iodide is combined with microencapsulated probiotics. It is required by your thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones that control your body's metabolism and energy levels.

Also known as: Potassium Iodide

Key benefits

  • Forms the core building block for thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) that control your energy and metabolism.
  • Regulates your body's baseline metabolic rate so your cells can produce energy efficiently.
  • Supports normal brain development, the growth of thinking and memory skills, and nerve formation in developing babies.
  • Supports everyday memory, focus, and healthy energy metabolism in adults.

Amplified by probiotics

Your body absorbs iodine through special transport channels in your intestine. Friendly probiotic bacteria protect the gut lining so these nutrient channels remain healthy and active. Probiotics also help neutralise certain plant compounds in food that can interfere with iodine absorption. Each probiotic bacterium is shielded by a micro-shield so it arrives safely in your gut, ensuring your body absorbs the iodine it needs.

Typical dose

150–250 µg/day

The evidence

Evidence: strong

Extensive clinical research establishes that adequate iodine intake supports thyroid health and normal baby brain development during pregnancy (Zimmermann MB. 2011, Endocr Rev; Hatch-McChesney A, Lieberman HR. 2022, Nutrients; Leung AM, Braverman LE. 2014, Nat Rev Endocrinol).

  1. Zimmermann MB. The role of iodine in human growth and development. Endocr Rev. 2011;32(4):518-543 PubMed ↗
  2. Hatch-McChesney A, Lieberman HR. Iodine Intake and Thyroid Function: A Review of Health Implications. Nutrients. 2022;14(10):2100 PubMed ↗
  3. Leung AM, Braverman LE. Consequences of excess iodine. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2014;10(3):136-142 PubMed ↗

Safety & who should check first

Iodine is very safe within daily recommended limits (150–250 µg/day). It is safe and essential during pregnancy. If you have an autoimmune thyroid condition (such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis), speak to your doctor before taking extra iodine supplements.