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Iodine Levels in Sardines

Saltwater fish such as sardines provide a good source of iodine, an essential trace element for humans. Sardines --- also called pilchards --- are small, silvery fish most often sold canned in oil, water or flavored sauces.

  1. Recommended Dietary Allowance

    • The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of iodine for adults aged 19 and older is 150 mcg/day; 150 g of sardines canned in oil provides 35 mcg of iodine. Canning in tomato sauce increases the amount of iodine in sardines; the same 150 g of sardines in tomato sauce contains nearly triple the amount of iodine (96 mcg).

    History

    • Named for the Italian island of Sardinia, where schools of these tiny fish abound, sardines first became popular after French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte initialized the canning of them to help feed his citizens. U.S. consumption of sardines declined during the 20th century, but is now making a comeback.

    Benefits

    • Because sardines swim at the bottom of the food chain, feeding solely on plankton, they are free from high levels of mercury and other heavy metals, unlike other iodine-containing ocean fish such as tuna and mackerel.

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