
Iodine Loading Check

The Loading Test compares how much of an iodine/iodide dose is absorbed versus how much is passed out in the urine by the kidneys. The total amount passed in the urine is inversely related to the amount your body needs and determines if you have sufficient iodine or need supplementation.
For the Urine Iodine Loading Test, 50 mg of an iodine/iodide mixture is given as a loading dose and the amount of iodine excreted in the urine over the next 24 hours is measured. In a healthy, iodine-sufficient person, about 90% of a 50mg iodine dose should be excreted in the urine, while the remaining 10% is retained by the body to support thyroid function and overall iodine storage. If less than 90% is excreted, it suggests the body is holding on to more iodine, indicating a deficiency.