IodineDoes iodine help you lose weight?
Updated 10 Nov 2026
Short answer
No trial found in PubMed searches showed that iodine supplements help with weight loss. Iodine is needed for thyroid hormones, which control how fast the body uses energy.[1]
In a trial of 163 overweight or obese women in Morocco with iodine deficiency, TSH was 33% lower with 200 µg of iodine a day for 6 months than with placebo. The share of women with high total cholesterol fell to 21.5%, against 34.8% with placebo. The main outcomes of the trial were TSH and cholesterol.[2]
Too much iodine can cause hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.[1]
Sources (2)
- Iodine: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. ods.od.nih.gov
- Iodine Supplementation Decreases Hypercholesterolemia in Iodine-Deficient, Overweight Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Herter-Aeberli I, Cherkaoui M, El Ansari N, Rohner R, Stinca S, Chabaa L, et al. J Nutr, 2015. PMID 26203098
More about iodine
What is iodine?Which foods contain iodine?What is iodine used for?What happens if you do not get enough iodine?Is iodine safe?Do you need an iodine supplement in pregnancy?For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.