Iodine supplements - yay or nay?

[chihiro]

Have read lots of contradicting information online so was wondering if anyone here had taken it and made them feel better or worse.Personally no thyroid disorder diagnosis yet but my fatigue is kicking my backside so badly that I am just desperate to feel better.

[PinkNinja]

It is always best to get an iodine test first. If you are deficient, supplementing will probably help. If you are not, it can make things worse. If you have an autoimmune thyroid condition, it is important to be careful with iodine because it could cause an autoimmune flare-up.

I don't take iodine as my hypothyroidism isn't due to low iodine.

Do you have any blood test results for thyroid? Do you also have serum iron, ferritin, folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin D test results? Although your thyroid results may be 'normal', they may not be good enough and the normal ranges for ferritin, folate and B12 are very low so don't go by these, get advice and do research on them. Any of the above could be causing your fatigue.

I hope you find the answer to what's causing your fatigue soon!

Carolyn x

[susymac]

The UK in general doesn't tend to be low in iodine, so its rare for that to be an issue. I wouldnt take it myself, I'm unstable enough without taking a chance of making things worse.

I definitely agree with Carolyn to get it tested before considering it.

[Vivante]

Please do not take supplements, they could make your condition worse. Wait until you have the proper diagnosis, your GP will prescribe for you. I was told many years to take Kelp, I was slightly overweight. I ignored that advice, thankfully. I found out after results I had hypothyroid and a hole in the heart which I was born with, I did not know about until a few years ago.

Please ignore info that cannot be substantiated. Main Thyroid website has produced a paper stating that also. You get enough iodine from your diet, you cant beat a good healthy diet, gentle exercise. Take it easy.

[tegz]

It would seem to be counter-intuitive to take Iodine when on thyroid replacment therapy.

T4 is downregulated to T3 etc by the deiodinasing process where iodine atoms are removed sequentially- so adding a 'free chunk' on top would not help -and may prove a hindrance.

To those not medicating and still having thyroid issues then a test for iodine level would seem sensible -as a deficiency could be part of the picture.

I found a really good site the other day explaining use / non use of Iodine, but I lost it in a browser freeze.

The gist was:more or less what I said:- May be , may be Not a good thing.

[chihiro]

Thank you all for your input on the subject. Wasn't planning on taking it till I had more tests done but wondered what others felt about it as I have come across such polar opposite opinions on it. They will say that it's great and then I will find somewhere else that says that it's evil stuff and should stay away from it!

Carolyn - yes I do have results

Vitamin B12 362 ng/L (211-911)

Folate 6.19 ug/L (greater than 5.38)

Ferritin 12 ug/L (10 - 291)

serum 25-Hydroxy vitamin D3 level 24.3 nmol/L

serum vitamin d2 level 5.0 nmol/L

Not seen the doctor yet about the above results so I am hoping she will do something about them as many have pointed out that ferritin is very low and so is vitamin d.I do feel they are part of the problem but my gut feeling tells me there is more to it. Anyhoo....shall stay calm and keep on pressing to get to the bottom of it all.

[brimstone]

I was advised by my pharmacist not to take iodine as I have hasimoto and also to avoid iodine dressings which I had to do after I cut my hand so please bear that in mind as well