Iodine def. and b12, has anyone experienced this please?

[Jo5454]

Hi,

I've discovered a severe iodine deficiency and am wondering if anyone can recommend an iodine supplement please? I have a functional b12 def. and have injections, taking as finding difficult to keep iron stores optimum, taking zinc/b6 for raised homocysteine, vit c, and about to recheck vit d as usually struggle to keep that up.

My thyroid levels have been varying, but antibodies ok, so thought I'd check iodine. Seeing as it's very low am have been advised to raise it and see if it improves symptoms and helps the absorption of the above.

I'm unsure as to the amount/type and wondered if anyone has tried this, seen any improvements, particularly with aiding the effectiveness of b12 and can suggest a good brand please?

Have just read how iodine is required to convert b2 to its active form FAD needed for methylation in converting b12??

Many thanks...

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Whilst B12 absorption problems can affect other vitamins and minerals iodine isn't one that i've seen mentioned.

Its difficult to evaluate iodine in diet as amounts in food tend to vary a lot depending on how much iodine is in the soil - coastal areas tend to have higher iodine. Dairy tends to be a good source because cattle feed tends to be supplemented with iodine.

Would suggest you speak to a pharmacist about supplements. Sea Kelp supplements are problematic as it is very difficult to ensure consistency of dosage - impossible would probably be more accurate.

[Jo5454 in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks Gambit62...I did a private test and my Dr suggested seaweed tablets, but am a bit confused by doseages, so thought Id ask on here first! I see your point and someone else has suggested Lugols so perhaps that would be a better option? Am reading you shold have good levels of iron, selenium, magnesium, alpha lipoic acids, vit c and be well hydrated too, as it seems it causes detox reactions and escorts substances such as bromide, fluoride, etc out of the system. So looks like I'll have to research a bit more!

[DelMegJJ]

Hi I’ve got all the symptoms of B12 deficiency but I’m undiagnosed due to my serum B12levels were 573 and therefore no help from the doctors. However I am also on a different website for ME as my daughter had it. She was treated by a great integrated medical doctor who has written several books in one she mentions iodine. I have followed her protocol on iodine. She advocates using lugols iodine which is liquid drink 2to4drops daily in a glass of water. You need to build it up slowly to see the effect. You can do a patch test on your skin of 10 cms square as it is absorbed through the skin. If it disappears under 24hrs you are deficient.

[Jo5454 in reply to DelMegJJ]

Thanks very much for your reply...sorry youre not getting help with your b12, I know the battles involved with that one and I hope you're able to get what you need...thanks for the info regarding ME that was what I was diagnosed with nearly 20 yrs ago. Could you tell me if you purchase yours online or over the counter please? I'll need to contact the manufacturer first as I have a latex allergy and not sure if the dropper is rubber? Thanks for making me aware of beginning slowly have read a bit more as to why and what else is needed to help with the possible side effects. I hope your daughter has made good progress with her ME. Thanks again.

[DelMegJJ in reply to Jo5454]

Hi Yes my daughter had ME for 5yrs and has been well for 12 yrs. You might like to read the the book written by the doctor who helped her recover. Dr Sarah Myhill. It’s Mitochondria not Hypochondria. It has a lot of information that might help you. And she has a.website. She has an online shop and sells Lugols iodine but you can get it on amazon. She also advocates self injection of B12 which I and my husband are doing as he was diagnosed with P.A. I wish you well and hope that this helps.

[Jo5454 in reply to DelMegJJ]

Thank youDelMegjj, that's great to hear your daughter has bee well for 12 years...very hope giving too! I will have a read thanks very much...it seems lugols comes in different strengths so will see what she says...I hope you and your husband go form true goth to strength...

[fbirder]

Where did you read that iodine is required for conversion of B12?

[Jo5454 in reply to fbirder]

Will try and find it fbirder, had never came across it before, but forgot to write down the source, doh!

[fbirder in reply to Jo5454]

I've done a trawl through the scientific literature and can find nothing at all.

[Jo5454 in reply to fbirder]

Sorry birder, will keep searching, it was the first time I'd ever read a possible link, so obviously not commonly discussed, so therefore may not be relevant...?

[humanbean]

How did you find out that you have an iodine deficiency? Did you do some form of iodine loading test?

I notice you first mentioned the iodine deficiency two years ago. Have you been supplementing all this time? Do you ever re-test?

Having low levels of iodine is not good, but neither is having high levels.

[Jo5454]

Hi, I did a urine test, think it was Medichecks. Yes, appreciate too high is dangerous, which is why I'm trying to get it right...yes I looked into it before and tried to increase foods with it in, but beacause I was correcting a lot of issues it got overlooked. I also presumed my thyroid was linked to low b12, iron and other probs, so tried to correct it that way. Levels have improved but I was very poorly with persistant infections for most of last year, so now having a new attack at what else I can do! Thanks for your reply...

[pollianna]

Hi, I supplement with Lougols. We need iodine and iodide.. We get the iodide from Lougols by painting a few drops on the skin. Iodide must go through the skin. If you take a couple or 3 drops every other daily for a month and paint your skin the other days then it should bump you back up. Its perfectly safe.

Google iodine intake of Japanese women. I think its about 12.5 (mg?)

Iodine is very good for cognitive issues too.If given to pregnant Mothers the child is born with a high IQ.

I actually painted by breasts with it for about 3 months due to a cyst.

Youtube has an amazing lectures by iodine experts

[helvella in reply to pollianna]

I find it very disappointing that the first site I find which reports iodine intake in Japan at around 1 to 3 milligrams a day:

thyroidresearchjournal.biom...

This is about the amount I remember reading previously.

The disappointment? That this is yet another apparently inflated claim as to Japanese iodine intake.

Giving iodine in pregnancy doesn't mean the child will be born with a high IQ - rather, inadequate iodine can reduce IQ from its potential for that child.

Excess iodine can have negative effects - possibly causing either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. It absolutely must not be described as "perfectly safe".

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Jo5454 in reply to helvella]

Thanks Helvella, sorry for the slow reply! I totally understand this is not to be overdosed, but I've been tested and only just above severe deficient range and the Dr is in agreement with supplementing this steadily, (although he recommended kelp, but I understand that most thyroid sites seem to state avoiding this due to unknown contents) and says a thyroid won't be working adequately without enough iodine? Just hoping it'll make a difference with something!

Thanks again...😀

[helvella in reply to Jo5454]

I certainly agree that adequate iodine is necessary - but as you seem well aware, finding out that you are deficient (or close to), and then deciding how to manage are more difficult.

I don't pretend to have the answers - just the concern that mis-handling can have considerably negative effects.

[Jo5454 in reply to pollianna]

Hi, thanks very much for your reply. Sorry for delay in replying! I wasn't able to take Lugols because of the top having latex dropper(have an allergy) but was really interested in Lugols website, the closest I could find was drops of potassium iodide in plastic dropper. Have been trying them for couple of weeks. Since then have located someone so will sell me Lgols in a larger bottle if I find a latex free dropper, so think I'll look into thatnext😀 I'm just taking 1 drop a day at mo, 150iu, not sure if that's anywhere near enough, but thought I'd start of steadily.

I took (before starting iodine) and am still taking selenium, as I read it can help with the detoxifying that iodine can cause.

I've since had a had a hair analysis done via America, and it's showing a few minerals out of balance, low mag to high calcium, and low copper, iron, and few others, which point to thyroid/adrenal issues, so sorting those now, back to the searching,lol!

I think if I aim to get all these levels in the normal range and still have thyroid probs, then at least I'll know I'll have tried and will have to take medication then...

Thanks again fr your help, glad you were helped...😀

[pollianna]

Jorge Flechas has given many lectures on iodine. His lectures are on Youtube.

He has given pregnant colleagues iodine. I myself have taken that amount of iodine. I did say for a month. I'm not a Dr therefore I did say to google..When I googled it just now the figure I found was actually 13.5 is estimated from seaweed products tho.

I would just like to say this is my experience and it was a positive one.

Maybe this will better illustrate where I got my info

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Iodine_...