Why Pink Salt and Oat Milk Can Leave Plant-Forward Eaters Short on Iodine

What NIH, University of Illinois Extension and NHANES data show about the specialty-salt iodine gap, and how Trace Ionics helps cover it while you keep your salt

Your pink salt is missing something. So is your oat milk. Sea, pink, and kosher salts provide little iodine unless the label says "iodized" (NIH ODS; University of Illinois Extension 2024), and most plant milks contain little iodine unless fortified (NIH ODS; Ma et al. 2016). Dairy is the largest food source of iodine in the US, and iodized salt is the main food fortified with it (Abt et al. 2018; Herrick et al. 2018; NIH ODS). Swap both, and you may have removed a big share of your iodine without anyone mentioning it. We call it the specialty-salt iodine gap.

 

 

Does pink Himalayan salt have iodine?

Not much. Pink Himalayan salt, sea salt and most kosher salts provide little iodine unless the label specifically says "iodized" (NIH ODS; University of Illinois Extension 2024). In the US, dairy is the largest food source of iodine, and iodized salt is the main food fortified with it (Abt et al. 2018; Herrick et al. 2018; NIH ODS). So when you switch to specialty salt and plant milk, you can quietly lose both at once. That's the specialty-salt iodine gap. Why it matters: iodine is the building block of thyroid hormone. You don't have to go back to table salt to fix it, either. Dairy, eggs and seafood can supply iodine, and so can a supplement with a label-declared amount. Trace Ionics by Triquetra Health helps plant-forward eaters close the specialty-salt iodine gap with 123 mcg of label-declared iodine plus selenium in two capsules, no switching back to table salt.* If you have a thyroid condition, take thyroid medication, or are pregnant or nursing, talk with your healthcare provider first.

Trace Ionics for the Specialty-Salt Iodine Gap: Keep Your Salt, Help Cover Your Iodine

Keep your sea salt. Help cover the iodine it left out.

123 mcg of label-declared iodine, paired with selenium, plus zinc for plant-forward diets, in two capsules.

Trace Ionics™ Broad-Spectrum Mineral Complex is a label-quantified trace-mineral supplement from Triquetra Health. It's built to help plant-forward eaters close the specialty-salt iodine gap without changing the foods they've chosen. Each two-capsule serving gives you 123 mcg iodine, stated on the label, paired with 45 mcg selenium (iodine builds, selenium activates). Alongside those sit 9 mg zinc balanced 12:1 with copper, 78 mg magnesium from a trace mineral complex and sea salt concentrate, manganese, chromium, molybdenum and boron. Fulvic and humic acid extracts derived from prehistoric deep-earth deposits complete the formula. Add it all up and you get twelve label-quantified minerals with every nutrient at or below 23% of its Upper Limit, no iron, and no kelp or seaweed among its listed ingredients. Iodine and selenium support healthy thyroid function, and zinc supports normal immune function.* It isn't formulated for pregnancy or nursing.

Trace Ionics uses a stack-friendly dose architecture: twelve label-quantified minerals, core trace minerals near 80% of the Daily Value, and every nutrient at or below 23% of its Upper Limit. Unlike products that list only "trace amounts," Trace Ionics states the amount of every mineral on its panel.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

See what your swaps removed ↓

Nobody Told You Your Healthy Swaps Changed Where Your Iodine Comes From

Maybe a cooking video tipped you off. Maybe a friend brought it up over dinner. Either way, it's a strange feeling to learn that two choices you made for good reasons (better salt, no dairy) quietly took something with them. A little surprise is fair. You read labels. You cook thoughtfully. And it's easy to miss. Non-iodized salt carries a small-print note that it doesn't supply iodide, and plant milks have no such note at all.

Here's what the research shows. A study of US vegans found low iodine status compared with vegetarians (Leung et al. 2011), and a systematic review of 15 studies found vegans were the group most at risk of low iodine intake and status (Eveleigh et al. 2020). Dairy, eggs, seafood and iodized salt are the usual sources, and plant-forward diets often include few of them (Herrick et al. 2018; NIH ODS). Plant foods don't fill in reliably, because their iodine depends on the soil they grew in (NIH ODS). There's no dependable plant staple to lean on. For reference, the adult RDA is 150 mcg a day (IOM 2001).

Zinc is the second mineral to watch. Whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds contain phytates, compounds that bind zinc in the gut and cut how much your body takes up (NIH ODS). About 15% of US adults already fall below the average zinc requirement from food (Reider et al. 2020). Soaking beans, grains and seeds, and choosing fermented or leavened foods, can help (NIH ODS). Trace Ionics helps fill common mineral gaps* that plant-forward diets can leave: iodine first, zinc second.

So the "am I covered?" question has a more specific answer here: for iodine, it's worth checking, especially if nothing else in your diet is filling in.

None of this means your swaps were a mistake. They just changed where your iodine and zinc come from.

Iodized Salt, Kelp and Vegan Multivitamins: Each Option, Fairly Weighed

You've got more than one way to close the gap, and some are cheap and effective. Here's how each one fits someone who picked specialty salt and plant milk on purpose.

Switching Back to Iodized Salt

Iodized salt reliably supplies iodine. The catch is that it asks plant-forward eaters to reverse a deliberate food choice, a trade-off many would rather not make. That's especially true if you value specialty salt for flavor and identity and you've already given up dairy. Trace Ionics takes a different route: it helps close the specialty-salt iodine gap with 123 mcg of label-declared iodine plus selenium, so you can keep your salt. (Iodized salt remains a good, inexpensive option for anyone open to it.)

Kelp, Seaweed and Sea Moss

Kelp and seaweed feel like natural, whole-food iodine sources. In practice, their iodine content varies widely (NIH ODS; Teas et al. 2004), some seaweeds, especially hijiki, can contain high levels of inorganic arsenic (FSANZ 2023), and sea moss usually lists no iodine amount at all. For a nutrient with an Upper Limit, that's a real problem, especially if you like knowing your intake. Trace Ionics, by contrast, states its iodine amount on the label and pairs it with selenium, which kelp provides very little of (USDA FoodData Central).

Is kelp a good source of iodine?

Kelp does contain iodine. The trouble is that the amount varies from product to product and batch to batch, so it's hard to know what you're getting each day (NIH ODS; Teas et al. 2004). For a nutrient with both a recommended intake (150 mcg for adults) and an Upper Limit (1,100 mcg per day), an unpredictable dose is the main drawback (IOM 2001). Some seaweeds, especially hijiki, can contain high levels of inorganic arsenic (FSANZ 2023), and sea moss is usually sold with no iodine amount on the label. Kelp also provides very little selenium (USDA FoodData Central), the mineral the body uses to activate thyroid hormone and protect the gland (Zimmermann & Köhrle 2002). If you'd rather know your number, a supplement with a label-declared iodine amount is the alternative. Trace Ionics provides 123 mcg iodine, stated on the label, paired with 45 mcg selenium in two capsules: no fishy taste and no guessing.*

Avoid combining iodine supplements, including kelp, with each other unless a clinician advises it.

Vegan Multivitamins

Vegan multivitamins are convenient. Not every multivitamin includes iodine, though, so check the label (NIH ODS), and some add iron that not everyone needs. For plant-forward eaters, that matters, because the iodine gap is a key one to close. Trace Ionics is built as an iron-free mineral layer with 123 mcg iodine, 45 mcg selenium and 9 mg zinc, designed to leave room under Upper Limits for most multivitamins. Add up your labels to be sure.

How Trace Ionics Works: Iodine Builds, Selenium Activates

Here's how the formula is built: an iodine–selenium pair at its center, with zinc and a wider mineral base alongside.

Picture thyroid hormone as a wall. Iodine is the bricks. Selenium is the mason who sets them and the crew that cleans up afterward. You need both.

Why do iodine and selenium go together?

They work as a pair in thyroid hormone production: iodine builds, selenium activates. Your thyroid takes up iodide and builds it into thyroglobulin to form T4 and T3. Selenium is built into deiodinase enzymes that convert T4 into active T3, and into glutathione peroxidases that protect the gland from the hydrogen peroxide it produces while making hormone (Schomburg 2011; Zimmermann & Köhrle 2002). Adequate selenium also helps maintain the thyroid's natural antioxidant defenses when iodide intake rises.

One honest caveat: for most healthy people with adequate selenium, extra selenium doesn't meaningfully change thyroid hormone levels (Combs et al. 2009; Winther et al. 2015). The benefit is maintaining a complete pair, not boosting anything. Trace Ionics pairs 123 mcg iodine with 45 mcg selenium (both about 82% DV), with selenium at only 11% of its Upper Limit, as part of its balanced cofactor design. Together, iodine and selenium support healthy thyroid function.* If you have a thyroid condition or take thyroid medication, talk with your provider before adding either.

Zinc for Plant-Forward Eating

Phytates in grains and legumes reduce zinc uptake (NIH ODS), so Trace Ionics adds 9 mg zinc (82% DV), balanced 12:1 with copper and with no iron. Zinc supports normal immune function.*

Why the copper? Long-term, high-dose zinc without copper can lower copper status (Schoofs et al. 2024; NIH ODS). At 23% of the zinc Upper Limit, this dose leaves room for food and other supplements.

The Rest of the Formula

Around the iodine, selenium and zinc sits a wider set of twelve label-quantified minerals: 78 mg magnesium from a trace mineral complex and sea salt concentrate, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum and boron, each with its amount on the panel. The design is 12:1 zinc-to-copper and iron-free, with no kelp or seaweed among its listed ingredients. Fulvic and humic acid extracts derived from prehistoric deep-earth deposits round it out as a natural mineral matrix. We make no absorption claim for the fulvic or humic acids. Think of it as a label-quantified trace-mineral foundation, where every amount can be checked against your other products.

 

 

What Keeping Your Salt Looks Like Day to Day

Minerals don't announce themselves the way caffeine does. What changes is quieter: a gap you didn't know about now has a clear, label-declared answer.

Keep Your Salt

Finish dinner with the flaky salt you love. Pour the oat milk. Trace Ionics helps fill common mineral gaps* with 123 mcg of iodine, so you can help close the gap without changing a single food choice.

Labeled, Not Guessed

Every amount is on the panel: twelve label-quantified minerals you can add up. You won't be wondering how much iodine this batch of kelp contains. It's mineral coverage you can read, add up and check against your other products.

The Thyroid Pair, Together

Iodine builds, selenium activates. Iodine and selenium support healthy thyroid function,* and Trace Ionics delivers both at about 82% of the Daily Value in the same two capsules.

Zinc for the Way You Eat

Nine milligrams of zinc helps cover the mineral plant-heavy diets most often make harder to absorb, balanced 12:1 zinc-to-copper, iron-free. Zinc, selenium and copper support normal immune function, and iodine and selenium support healthy thyroid function.*

No Fishy Taste

Two capsules with a meal. No seaweed aftertaste, and no kelp or seaweed among the listed ingredients.

Learn More About Trace Ionics →

The Research Behind Label-Declared Iodine for Plant-Forward Eaters

Sea, pink and kosher salts provide little iodine unless iodized, dairy is the largest US food source of iodine and iodized salt the main food fortified with it, and research on vegans has found low iodine status (NIH ODS; University of Illinois Extension 2024; Abt 2018; Herrick 2018; Leung 2011; Eveleigh 2020).

Trace Ionics is built on National Academies reference science and NHANES gap data showing that about 45% of Americans aged 2 and older had total magnesium intakes below the requirement (Fulgoni et al. 2011).

Trace Ionics as a complete formula has not been studied in a clinical trial; our claims describe what each mineral is established to support at the amounts provided.

Where US iodine comes from. FDA Total Diet Study data show dairy supplies roughly half of US adults' iodine from food (Abt et al. 2018). NHANES analyses identify dairy, grains and eggs as key iodine sources, with iodized salt and supplements as additional sources (Herrick et al. 2018). Specialty salts such as sea salt, kosher salt and Himalayan salt are not usually iodized (NIH ODS), and most sea salts have no iodine added (University of Illinois Extension 2024; an extension education source, paired here with federal guidance and the peer-reviewed NHANES work).

Iodine status on plant-based diets. In a study of Boston-area vegetarians and vegans, vegans showed low iodine status (Leung et al. 2011). A systematic review of 15 studies found vegans were the group most at risk of low iodine intake and status (Eveleigh et al. 2020).

The thyroid pair. Selenium-containing deiodinases activate thyroid hormone, and selenoproteins protect the gland during hormone production (Schomburg 2011; Zimmermann & Köhrle 2002). In people with adequate selenium, these enzymes are well protected (Köhrle & Frädrich 2022), and trials in healthy adults found no meaningful change in thyroid hormone levels with extra selenium (Combs et al. 2009; Winther et al. 2015). That's why the benefit is maintenance rather than a boost.

Zinc and the wider gap picture. About 15% of US adults fall below the zinc requirement from food (Reider et al. 2020). About 45% of Americans aged 2 and older had total magnesium intakes below the requirement (Fulgoni et al. 2011), and newer data put it at 48% from food alone (NIH ODS).

Iodine Reference Intakes

 

 

Choosing an Iodine Source After Switching to Specialty Salt and Plant Milks

Trace Ionics uses a stack-friendly dose architecture: twelve label-quantified minerals, core trace minerals near 80% of the Daily Value, and every nutrient at or below 23% of its Upper Limit. Unlike products that list only "trace amounts," Trace Ionics states the amount of every mineral on its panel.

For this audience, three things set it apart: a label-declared iodine amount, a selenium partner, and real numbers in a natural-mineral category. And because zinc, selenium and copper support normal immune function and iodine and selenium support healthy thyroid function,* it covers more than iodine alone.

For keeping your food choices:

✓ Good fit: Trace Ionics (123 mcg label-declared iodine; keep your salt)

○ Also works: Iodized salt for part of your cooking (effective and inexpensive, if you're open to it)

✗ Less predictable: Doing nothing (may leave the gap open if little else in your diet supplies iodine)

For knowing your dose:

✓ Good fit: Trace Ionics (iodine amount stated on the label)

○ Also works: Iodine-containing vegan multivitamin (check the label; amounts vary and some contain none)

✗ Less predictable: Kelp capsules, seaweed snacks, sea moss (variable or unstated iodine)

For the thyroid pair:

✓ Good fit: Trace Ionics (iodine builds, selenium activates; 45 mcg selenium)

✗ Less predictable: Kelp alone (little selenium)

For plant-based zinc:

✓ Good fit: Trace Ionics (9 mg zinc, 12:1 with copper, iron-free)

○ Also works: Phytate-reducing prep such as soaking and fermenting (helpful, hard to quantify)

For pregnancy or nursing:

✓ Good fit: A prenatal with iodine, chosen with your provider

✗ Not for this stage: Trace Ionics

Quick Answers on Iodine, Thyroid Safety and Timing

If you have a thyroid condition, take thyroid medication, or are pregnant or nursing, talk with your healthcare provider before taking an iodine-containing supplement.

Should I take iodine if I have a thyroid condition or take thyroid medication?

Talk with your healthcare provider before taking any iodine-containing supplement if you have a thyroid condition or take thyroid medication. For some people with autoimmune thyroid conditions, added iodine may not be appropriate, and iodine can interact with antithyroid medications such as methimazole and with lithium (NIH ODS; Linus Pauling Institute). If you take levothyroxine, minerals and fiber-type supplements can interfere with absorption, so separate them by at least four hours. Trace Ionics contains 123 mcg iodine and 45 mcg selenium along with other minerals and fulvic and humic acid extracts. It's designed for adults without thyroid conditions who want a label-quantified mineral foundation, and it isn't a substitute for medical care or medication. If your provider approves it, take it at least four hours apart from thyroid medication, often at lunch or dinner.

I'm plant-based and pregnant: how do I get enough iodine?

Iodine needs rise during pregnancy (RDA 220 mcg) and breastfeeding (290 mcg), and plant-based diets often lack the usual sources: dairy, eggs, seafood and iodized salt (Herrick et al. 2018; NIH ODS). That makes a reliable iodine source especially important. Bring it up with your healthcare provider early, including whether your prenatal contains iodine. Trace Ionics isn't formulated for pregnancy or nursing: its 123 mcg iodine is designed for non-pregnant adults, and safety data for its fulvic and humic acids during pregnancy and lactation are insufficient. A prenatal chosen with your provider is the right choice during this time, and avoid layering multiple iodine products without guidance.

Do I still need iodized salt if I take Trace Ionics?

Not necessarily. If Trace Ionics and the rest of your diet cover your iodine, you can keep your specialty salt. Using some iodized salt too is fine, as long as your total iodine from all sources stays under the adult Upper Limit of 1,100 mcg per day. Trace Ionics supplies 123 mcg, about 11% of that limit.

What's the best time of day to take Trace Ionics?

Take 2 capsules once daily with a meal. Lunch or dinner often works well. If you take levothyroxine, take it at least 4 hours apart from Trace Ionics. Take tetracycline or quinolone antibiotics at least 2 hours before or 4–6 hours after Trace Ionics, and separate oral bisphosphonates by at least 2 hours. If you take any of these or other prescription medications, check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist first. Do not exceed 2 capsules daily.

Keep Your Salt. Help Cover Your Iodine.

Two capsules, 123 mcg of label-declared iodine plus 45 mcg selenium, and no switching back to table salt.

Sea, pink and kosher salts provide little iodine unless iodized, dairy is the largest US food source of iodine and iodized salt the main food fortified with it, and research on vegans has found low iodine status (NIH ODS; University of Illinois Extension 2024; Abt 2018; Herrick 2018; Leung 2011; Eveleigh 2020).

Iodine builds, selenium activates, and zinc helps cover what plant-heavy diets make harder to absorb. Every amount is on the label. Trace Ionics helps fill common mineral gaps* with twelve label-quantified minerals, every nutrient at or below 23% of its Upper Limit.

Learn More About Trace Ionics →

Backed by our satisfaction guarantee (see full terms) and cGMP manufacturing.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Not formulated for use during pregnancy or nursing.

For the Detail-Oriented: Iodine Sources, the Full Panel and More Answers

 

Where Iodine Shows Up in Food

In the US, dairy is the largest food source of iodine (Abt et al. 2018), with grains (including some commercial breads) and eggs also contributing; iodized salt and seafood are other major sources (Herrick et al. 2018; NIH ODS). Plant foods vary with the iodine content of the soil they grew in (NIH ODS). Most plant milks contain little iodine unless fortified (NIH ODS; Ma et al. 2016), so check the carton for a stated iodine amount. Seaweed contains iodine, but the amount is unpredictable (NIH ODS; Teas et al. 2004).

Selenium: Why "More" Isn't the Goal

Your body prioritizes selenium for the enzymes that activate thyroid hormone, and in people with adequate selenium those enzymes are well protected (Köhrle & Frädrich 2022). Trials in healthy adults found no meaningful change in thyroid hormone levels with extra selenium (Combs et al. 2009; Winther et al. 2015). That's why Trace Ionics uses a moderate 45 mcg (11% of the Upper Limit) instead of a high dose. The aim is a complete iodine–selenium pair, not a boost.

Extended FAQ

Can I take Trace Ionics with a multivitamin that has iodine?

Often, yes. Add the iodine on your multivitamin label to the 123 mcg in Trace Ionics, plus any iodized salt you use, and keep the total under the adult Upper Limit of 1,100 mcg per day (IOM 2001). Don't add kelp or another iodine supplement on top without guidance from your healthcare provider.

Is the iodine in seaweed snacks enough?

It's hard to say. Seaweed snacks do contain iodine, but the amount varies by seaweed type and product, and most packages don't state it (NIH ODS; Teas et al. 2004). They can be part of an iodine-rich diet. They just aren't a predictable daily source.

Does flaky finishing salt have iodine?

Usually not. Flaky finishing salts, like other specialty salts, typically provide little iodine unless the label says "iodized" (NIH ODS; University of Illinois Extension 2024). If the box doesn't mention iodine, assume it contributes little.

Is sea salt lower in sodium than table salt?

Not meaningfully, gram for gram. Sea salt, pink salt and table salt are all mostly sodium chloride, at about 40% sodium (University of Illinois Extension 2024). Bigger crystals mean less salt fits in a teaspoon, which changes sodium per spoonful, not per gram. Trace Ionics itself contains 1.6 mg sodium per serving, from its trace mineral complex and sea salt concentrate.

Your Salt Stays. Your Iodine Gets a Number.

You now know why the gap happens and how to close it without giving up the foods you chose. The "am I covered?" question finally has a clear, label-declared answer.

Trace Ionics by Triquetra Health helps plant-forward eaters close the specialty-salt iodine gap with 123 mcg of label-declared iodine plus selenium in two capsules, no switching back to table salt.*

Learn More About Trace Ionics →

 

Who Trace Ionics Is Designed For

Trace Ionics is designed for people who:

✓ Cook with sea, pink, kosher or flaky salt and drink plant milks

✓ Eat little or no dairy, eggs or seafood

✓ Want a label-declared iodine source instead of kelp, seaweed or sea moss

✓ Want zinc covered on a plant-heavy diet

✓ Want to keep their food choices rather than switch back to table salt

Trace Ionics is not the right fit when:

○ You're pregnant, nursing or trying to conceive: choose a prenatal with iodine, with your provider

○ You have a thyroid condition or take thyroid medication: talk with your provider before any iodine supplement

○ You already use iodized salt regularly or get iodine from dairy, eggs or seafood and an iodine-containing multivitamin

○ You already take kelp or another iodine supplement: don't stack iodine sources without guidance

If you have a thyroid condition, take thyroid medication, or are pregnant or nursing, talk with your healthcare provider before taking an iodine-containing supplement.

Scientific References & Citations

Sources are listed with DOI or PubMed links where available. Trace Ionics as a complete formula has not been studied in a clinical trial.

Peer-Reviewed Studies

Abt, E., Spungen, J., Pouillot, R., Gamalo-Siebers, M., & Wirtz, M. (2018). Update on dietary intake of perchlorate and iodine from U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Total Diet Study: 2008–2012. Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, 28(1), 21–30. https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2016.78
Relevance: Dairy supplies roughly half of US adults' food-based iodine.

Combs, G. F., Jr., Midthune, D. N., Patterson, K. Y., Canfield, W. K., Hill, A. D., Levander, O. A., Taylor, P. R., Moler, J. E., & Patterson, B. H. (2009). Effects of selenomethionine supplementation on selenium status and thyroid hormone concentrations in healthy adults. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 89(6), 1808–1814. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.2008.27356
Relevance: 200 mcg/day selenium for 28 months produced no clinically significant change in thyroid hormones in healthy US adults.

Eveleigh, E. R., Coneyworth, L. J., Avery, A., & Welham, S. J. M. (2020). Vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores: How does dietary choice influence iodine intake? A systematic review. Nutrients, 12(6), 1606. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12061606
Relevance: Systematic review of 15 studies (127,094 adults); vegans had the lowest urinary iodine and were most at risk of low iodine intake and status.

Fulgoni, V. L., III, Keast, D. R., Bailey, R. L., & Dwyer, J. (2011). Foods, fortificants, and supplements: Where do Americans get their nutrients? The Journal of Nutrition, 141(10), 1847–1854. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.111.142257
Relevance: About 45% of Americans aged 2+ had total magnesium intakes below the EAR (NHANES 2003–2006).

✱ Herrick, K. A., Perrine, C. G., Aoki, Y., & Caldwell, K. L. (2018). Iodine status and consumption of key iodine sources in the U.S. population with special attention to reproductive age women. Nutrients, 10(7), 874. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10070874 (PubMed: 29986412)
Relevance: NHANES 2011–2014; dairy, grains and eggs as key US iodine sources; iodine-containing supplement users had higher urinary iodine.

Köhrle, J., & Frädrich, C. (2022). Deiodinases control local cellular and systemic thyroid hormone availability. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 193(Pt 1), 59–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.09.024 (PubMed: 36206932)
Relevance: Deiodinases are protected in the selenium hierarchy, the basis for the maintenance caveat.

✱ Leung, A. M., LaMar, A., He, X., Braverman, L. E., & Pearce, E. N. (2011). Iodine status and thyroid function of Boston-area vegetarians and vegans. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 96(8), E1303–E1307. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2011-0256 (PubMed: 21613354)
Relevance: Lower iodine status in US vegans than vegetarians (median urinary iodine 78.5 µg/L vs. 147 µg/L).

Ma, W., He, X., & Braverman, L. (2016). Iodine content in milk alternatives. Thyroid, 26(9), 1308–1310. https://doi.org/10.1089/thy.2016.0239
Relevance: 30 US milk-alternative brands averaged 3.1 mcg iodine per cup.

Reider, C. A., Chung, R.-Y., Devarshi, P. P., Grant, R. W., & Hazels Mitmesser, S. (2020). Inadequacy of immune health nutrients: Intakes in US adults, the 2005–2016 NHANES. Nutrients, 12(6), 1735. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12061735 (PubMed: 32531972)
Relevance: About 15% of US adults below the zinc EAR from food.

Schomburg, L. (2011). Selenium, selenoproteins and the thyroid gland: Interactions in health and disease. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 8(3), 160–171. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2011.174 (PubMed: 22009156)
Relevance: Selenium's role in activating thyroid hormone and protecting the gland.

Schoofs, H., Schmit, J., & Rink, L. (2024). Zinc toxicity: Understanding the limits. Molecules, 29(13), 3130. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29133130 (PubMed: 38999082)
Relevance: Zinc limits and the zinc–copper interaction.

Teas, J., Pino, S., Critchley, A., & Braverman, L. E. (2004). Variability of iodine content in common commercially available edible seaweeds. Thyroid, 14(10), 836–841. https://doi.org/10.1089/thy.2004.14.836
Relevance: Seaweed iodine ranged from 16 to more than 8,165 µg/g.

Winther, K. H., Bonnema, S. J., Cold, F., Debrabant, B., Nybo, M., Cold, S., & Hegedüs, L. (2015). Does selenium supplementation affect thyroid function? Results from a randomized, controlled, double-blinded trial in a Danish population. European Journal of Endocrinology, 172(6), 657–667. https://doi.org/10.1530/EJE-15-0069
Relevance: 5-year RCT (n=491); only small, dose-dependent changes in TSH and FT4.

Zimmermann, M. B., & Köhrle, J. (2002). The impact of iron and selenium deficiencies on iodine and thyroid metabolism: Biochemistry and relevance to public health. Thyroid, 12(10), 867–878. https://doi.org/10.1089/105072502761016494 (PubMed: 12487769)
Relevance: The iodine–selenium thyroid axis; adequate selenium protects the thyroid when iodide exposure rises.

Reference Intakes, Government & Extension Sources

Food Standards Australia New Zealand. (2023). Imported food risk statement: Hijiki seaweed and inorganic arsenic. https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-11/Hijiki%20seaweed%20and%20inorganic%20arsenic.pdf
Relevance: Inorganic arsenic in hijiki seaweed.

Institute of Medicine. (1997). Dietary reference intakes for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D, and fluoride. National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/5776
Relevance: Magnesium requirements and supplemental UL.

Institute of Medicine. (2001). Dietary reference intakes for vitamin A, vitamin K, arsenic, boron, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silicon, vanadium, and zinc. National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/10026 (NCBI Bookshelf: NBK222310)
Relevance: Iodine RDAs (150 / 220 / 290 mcg) and Upper Limit (1,100 mcg); zinc, copper, manganese, molybdenum and boron requirements and ULs.

Institute of Medicine. (2005). Dietary reference intakes for water, potassium, sodium, chloride, and sulfate. National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/10925
Relevance: Chloride Upper Limit (3.6 g/day).

Linus Pauling Institute. (n.d.). Drug-nutrient interactions. Oregon State University. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/drug-nutrient-interactions
Relevance: Iodide–lithium interaction.

National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (2024a). Iodine: Fact sheet for consumers. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-Consumer/
Relevance: Specialty salts are not usually iodized; medication interactions.

National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (2024b). Iodine: Fact sheet for health professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/
Relevance: Food sources, soil variability, plant milks, seaweed variability, bread iodate, RDAs and ULs.

National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (n.d.). Magnesium: Fact sheet for health professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
Relevance: Medication timing; 48% of Americans below the magnesium EAR from food.

National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (n.d.). Selenium: Fact sheet for health professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Selenium-HealthProfessional/
Relevance: Selenium's role in thyroid hormone metabolism; UL.

National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (n.d.). Zinc: Fact sheet for health professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/
Relevance: Phytates, food preparation, antibiotic timing, zinc–copper interaction.

Smith, J. (2024, June 28). Table salt vs. sea salt: What's the difference? Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious. University of Illinois Extension. https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/simply-nutritious-quick-and-delicious/2024-06-28-table-salt-vs-sea-salt-whats-difference
Relevance: Most sea salts do not have iodine added; sea salt and table salt are both about 40% sodium. This is extension education, not a peer-reviewed study.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. (2019). Seaweed, kelp, raw (FDC ID 168457). FoodData Central. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/
Relevance: Kelp provides very little selenium.

Regulations & Manufacturing Standards

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Salt and iodized salt, 21 C.F.R. § 100.155. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/100.155
Relevance: Non-iodized table salt must state "This salt does not supply iodide, a necessary nutrient."

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Current good manufacturing practice in manufacturing, packaging, labeling, or holding operations for dietary supplements, 21 C.F.R. Part 111.
Relevance: cGMP standard for dietary supplement manufacturing.

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary. Not formulated for use during pregnancy or nursing. If you have a thyroid condition or take thyroid medication, consult your healthcare provider before use.