Do kelp supplements help to relief hypo symptoms? - Thyroid UK

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Do kelp supplements help to relief hypo symptoms?

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sayou
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Ansteynomad profile image
Ansteynomad

I believe it's best not to mess with kelp unless you have been tested and know you are iodine deficient and not at all if you have Hashi's.

Having said that, I tried it once, when I was not quite so well informed. It halved my TSH and raised my FT4, but I didn't feel any different.

tricky question but agree with Anstey.

If you have an iodine deficiency, it may help (have you had a test? best test before any supplements really)

but if you already have a thyroid problem like Hashimotos (most common sort) it may make the antibody attack stronger - well that's what I'm led to understand anyway - but the jury is out on this one, seems to suit Oprah 'tho?

Thyroid medication contains iodine anyway.

But as I'm not on medication sometimes I use a little iodised salt, sometimes I use sea salt. But I love to eat shellfish/seafood so don't want to overdo it. hope this helps J :D

crimple profile image
crimple in reply to

does all thyroid medication contain iodine, I have not seen it on the ingredients list of the levothyroxine that I take?!

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply tocrimple

Thyroid medication does not include iodine. However, vitamin and mineral supplements marketed for thyroid support may contain iodine.

in reply tocrimple

I just had a look at a patient info leaflet (PIL) no there's no mention.

Have a look at wiki (Iodine atoms are marked 'I' on the molecular structure thingy)

there's 4 and deiodinase takes one off to convert it to T3 for use - so I'm lead to believe anyway! :D

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levot...

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply to

Quite right spare,

Approximately 63.54% of the claimed levothyroxine content is iodine. Although there are only four iodine atoms in each molecule of levothyroxine, iodine atoms are relatively heavy.

The "mention" is simply that anyone who knows what the word "levothyroxine" means would understand that it is a molecule comprised, in part, of iodine.

Similarly, vitamin B12 does not usually say "Contains Cobalt". (Though the alternative name cobalamin does give a hint.)

psue profile image
psue in reply tocrimple

All thyroid hormones have Iodine molecules attached to them; so T4 has 4 molecules and T3 has 3 molecules and so on; so yes it does have Iodine.

However, these quantities may not be adequate for good breast tissue health; the other tissue in your body which requires ample Iodine supplies.

T4 with its 4 iodine molecules has to be deiodised to become T3 so one of the iodine molecules is removed from T4 to turn it into T3 = conversion.

Some of us hypothyroids, cant seem to do this adequately and that is when T4 treatment is inadequate for our body's needs - so must have T3 in our treatment.

The body is quite good at recycling Iodine and reabsorbs it from the gut. However, we hypothyroids tend to have gut problems and may also suffer yeast infections with gut dysbiosis and may therefore fail in this.

psue profile image
psue in reply to

Read up on Sea salt and Rock salt (natural sources); but never use 'table' iodised salt; it's a manufactured chemical which is more harmful than helpful despite being iodised. Responsible for raising blood pressure and should not be taken if blood pressure already raised. However, it seems natural salts dont have the same effect; their effect on the body is all positive it seems.

Sea salt is pure and will contain Iodine but also contains all the minerals your body needs in appropriate quantities - all life on earth originates from the sea.

sayou profile image
sayou

Thank you !

You might find this article useful. It's not entirely true that you shouldn't take it if you have hashis

chriskresser.com/iodine-for...

Also, here's Dr P's views on the subject: tpauk.com/forum/content.php...

There is also a facebook iodine group: facebook.com/groups/iodine4...

Iodine is controversial. Iodized salt is contraindicated because of the processed salt not because of the iodine. Kelp is also considered contaminated unless you get it from a very clean source. There is a whole protocol to follow with iodine so you'd need to take advice.

Best wishes

Rebecca

Jessiepup profile image
Jessiepup

I took a multivitamin a couple if years ago which has a small amount of iodine - I took it for 3 days and I was hyper for 1 month.

Be very careful .

humanbean profile image
humanbean

This site has interesting links to information about iodine and the thyroid.

iodineresearch.com/index.html

Lettie999 profile image
Lettie999

I tried Iodine, I felt no better and came out in hideous boils all over , very unpleasant for me and anyone who had to look at me.

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