Iodine dosage

Iodine is an essential trace element involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormones and in numerous metabolic processes. Its content in foods, supplements, or ingredients of natural origin is a key indicator of nutritional value and regulatory compliance .
Iodine testing is therefore essential to ensure the nutritional safety of fortified products, nutraceutical formulations, and plant or marine raw materials.

Principle and operation of the method

Iodine analysis relies on several approaches depending on the matrix and the required sensitivity:

• Sandell-Kolthoff colorimetric method : this technique is based on the catalytic reduction of cerium(IV) by arsenite in the presence of iodide, producing a decolorization proportional to the iodine concentration. It is commonly used for simple food matrices and supplements.
• High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) : allows the separation of different forms of iodine (iodide, iodate, organic iodine) before quantification.
• Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) : these techniques offer very high sensitivity (down to a few µg/kg) and excellent accuracy , suitable for complex samples such as algae, enriched powders or processed foods.

All of these methods together allow for reliable analytical control, in accordance with the requirements of international standards and European regulations on iodine content.

Analytical performance and related analyses

Iodine analysis provides precise quantification for quality control , formulation , and nutritional monitoring .
For a comprehensive assessment of minerals and trace elements, this analysis can be combined with other services from the YesWeLab catalog, such as:

• the dosage of sodium , potassium and magnesium ,
• and zinc dosage ,
• the measurement of calcium and phosphorus ,
• or even the measurement of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic).

These additional analyses ensure a complete mineral characterization of food products, supplements or functional ingredients.

Applications and areas of use

Iodine measurement has applications in several sectors:

• Human food : control of levels in fortified products, infant milks, iodized salts or processed foods.
• Nutraceuticals : standardization of algae-based supplements or multi-mineral formulations.
• Animal nutrition : monitoring of the intake of additives or premixes in livestock feed.
• Plant and marine products : assessment of the natural iodine content in algae , plant extracts or seawater-based products .

This analysis helps to ensure nutritional security , to avoid deficiencies or excesses of intake, and to promote products with high nutritional value.

The advantages of the YesWeLab service

YesWeLab relies on a network of ISO 17025 and COFRAC accredited laboratories , experts in mineral and elemental analysis. Each sample is entrusted to a laboratory selected according to the required method and the nature of the matrix (food, plant, marine or animal).

Thanks to its digital platform , YesWeLab simplifies the management of analyses: requesting quotes, submitting samples, tracking results, and receiving them online.
Since 2020, numerous manufacturers, formulators, and distributors have trusted YesWeLab for their nutritional and regulatory analyses.

For any specific request relating to iodine dosage , contact our scientific team to obtain a personalized quote and appropriate technical support.