Iodine

Single-ingredient iodine reference formula at 150 mcg per serving, developed as a tablet or capsule.

Iodine is a reference formula for brands building a single-ingredient trace mineral product at a default amount of 150 mcg (0.15 mg) of elemental iodine per serving. Iodine is the only active ingredient, so the development work sits with a microgram-level mineral: the iodide salt, the premix that carries it, and content uniformity in every unit.

Tablet is the lead format because a potassium iodide premix compresses into a small unit with a coating, while a capsule version uses the same premix in a standard fill. Options of 200 and 225 mcg sit beside the default, and the amount is a decision for the brand and its market review.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
Iodine150 mcg (default amount)Potassium iodide as a premix on a carrier, specified on elemental iodine content; 150 mcg iodine per servingSodium iodide or kelp-derived iodine, with the input recalculated to 150 mcg of elemental iodine

Amounts are stated as mcg of elemental iodine; 150 mcg equals 0.15 mg. Potassium iodide (KI, 166.0 g/mol; PubChem CID 4875) is 76.5% iodine by weight, so 150 mcg of iodine needs about 196 mcg of the salt. Kelp-derived sources carry iodine at a variable content that the supplier assay sets.

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around daily iodine intake and trace mineral nutrition. Iodine is included as the only active so that the salt, the amount and the premix can be set without interaction with other actives.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Daily iodine intakeIodineIncluded because iodine is a micronutrient required for thyroid hormone synthesis, and a review estimates that about 2 billion individuals have an insufficient iodine intake, with about 50% of Europe remaining mildly deficient [1]. Evidence: Referenced
Thyroid nutritionIodineA review states that an acute iodine load may cause thyroid dysfunction, either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, in susceptible individuals, although excessive intake is generally well tolerated [2]. Evidence: Mixed

The amount is one stated tier. Because the second review describes risk at high intakes [2], amounts above the adult upper intake level are not carried as options on this page, and amount, claims and target market are reviewed for each sales market.

Available Formats

The iodine reference formula is built for a tablet version and a capsule version; counts per serving are design choices that the brand can adjust.

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Tablet1 tablet150 mcg100 or 200 tabletsCalcium phosphate, vegetable cellulose, vegetable stearic acid, silica, vegetable magnesium stearateLead format; coated unit with a premix
Capsule1 capsule150 mcg90 or 180 capsulesCellulose, flow agent, vegetable capsule shellPremix in a standard fill

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. The input is the iodine amount divided by the iodine content of the salt at an assumed 100% assay, and the salt is carried in a 1% premix on a carrier. Potassium iodide at 76.5% iodine gives 0.196 mg of salt, or about 20 mg of premix, for 150 mcg of iodine.

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
Tablet20 mg premix (150 mcg iodine)120 mg tablet weight100 mgContent uniformity, hardness, disintegration, content assay of iodine
Capsule20 mg premix (150 mcg iodine)150 mg per capsule130 mgBlend uniformity, fill weight variation, content assay of iodine

Liquid and powder versions are separate projects, because a microgram-level halide in a dissolving format needs its own homogeneity and stability work.

Formulation Considerations

Micro-dose in a premix. At 0.2 mg of potassium iodide per unit, the active is a tiny part of the blend. The premix dilution and a stepwise blending order are set first, and content uniformity of the first units decides whether the dilution holds.
Iodide stability. Iodide salts can lose iodine through oxidation and moisture, so blending humidity, a coated tablet and a tight bottle are part of the stability plan, and iodine content through shelf life is measured by assay.
Label basis. The label amount is elemental iodine, not the salt. The specification states the iodine assay of the premix, and finished units are assayed as elemental iodine.
Amount tier. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements lists 1,100 mcg per day of iodine as the tolerable upper intake level for adults [3], and the review in [2] describes thyroid dysfunction after excess intake. The reference labels include much larger single-unit amounts, which are not carried here, and the dose limit for each sales market is checked before a product is developed.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the amount per serving, the iodine source, the format and the coating.

ParameterRangeNote
Amount per serving150, 200 or 225 mcgOptions for the brand; each tier is checked against the limit of the sales market
Iodine sourcePotassium iodide, sodium iodide or kelpIodine percent and label wording differ by source; input recalculated from the assay
FormatTablet or capsuleLiquid and powder are separate projects
Pack size60 to 200 unitsSet by the brand
Add-onsSelenium, zinc, tyrosineA second active moves the premix weight and the uniformity check

The pilot run confirms blend and content uniformity of the iodine premix, tablet hardness and coating integrity, capsule fill weight, and the content assay of elemental iodine in the first units against the labeled 150 mcg.

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (150 mcg on the label of CF000332; example DSLD labels 2250, 7258, 12233). The label names the ingredient as iodine; potassium iodide is set as the form.
SpecificationSet in formulationPotassium iodide premix, 150 mcg elemental iodine per serving; assay, premix dilution and limits and method are fixed with the supplier. Unit size, fill weight and stability are set in formulation.
Data sourceNIH DSLDDSLD v9.4.0, downloaded 2026-01-10: 50,824 reference formulas merged from on-market labels with complete ingredient amounts. Counts show how labels are distributed.
Market reviewPer marketDose limits, labeling and claims are reviewed for each sales market before a finished product is developed.
ReferencesSources[1] Zimmermann MB. Iodine deficiency. Endocr Rev. 2009;30(4):376-408. DOI · PubMed<br>[2] Sohn SY, Inoue K, Rhee CM, et al. Risks of Iodine Excess. Endocr Rev. 2024;45(6):858-879. DOI · PubMed<br>[3] NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Iodine: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Source

Related products

OEM/ODM Development Inquiry

Essencefield supports custom supplement formulation and OEM/ODM development, including ingredient selection, dosage adjustments, delivery formats, flavors, packaging, and commercial supply. Submit your project requirements below to explore customization options, sample development, and manufacturing solutions tailored to your brand and target market.