| Median value (mg/L) | Iodine ingestion | Iodine nutrition |
| <20 | Insufficient | Severe iodine deficiency |
| 20 - 49 | Insufficient | Moderate iodine deficiency |
| 50 - 99 | Insufficient | Slight iodine deficiency |
| 100 - 199 | Adequate | Excellent |
| 200 - 299 | More than adequate | Risk of iodine-induced hyperthyroidism |
| >300 | Excessive | Risk of adverse effects (iodine-induced hyperthyroidism and chronic autoimmune thyroiditis) |