Iodine

[Diyena]

With Hashimotos are you supposed to avoid iodine or seek it out in food?

[Jefner]

Avoid i believe

[Hidden]

This is a complicated area. If you are deficient in iodine, which you may be, especially if you don't drink much milk or eat much fish, then it is reasonable to take some. However there is some evidence that iodine may worsen Hashis, so it is important not to take it if you are not deficient, and definitely not to overdo it.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

There is a school of thought that you should not take iodine without selenium.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

If you google Chris Kresser hypthyroid iodine you'll find this school of thought on selenium. But there is much disagreement amongst drs and the research is very confusing, it's hard to draw clear conclusions from it. I've tried.

However, If you don't drink milk or eat fish or take supps containing iodine you probably are iodine deficient. Iodine deficiency is a lead cause of hypo. Iodine is needed for other functions in the body beside the thyroid, so I would consider testing and putting it right. Unfortnately no research in the UK has tested patients for iodine deficiency at diagnosis of AIT. But go canny.

[Diyena in reply to Hidden]

I don't drink milk or eat fish 😐

[greygoose]

Never take it without getting tested first - and even then, only under and experienced doctor. Hashimoto's isn't caused by low iodine. But, taking it will stimulate your thyroid gland, which will stimulate the antibodies.

And, remember, you are getting iodine from your thyroid hormone replacement - if you're taking any.

[Diyena in reply to greygoose]

Ah I didn't realise that thyroxine had iodine in. I wasn't thinking of supplementing ( if there is such a thing) I just have both iodised salt and sea salt, I wasn't sure which I should be using.

[Treepie in reply to Diyena]

levo(T4) has four iodine atoms, T3 has three.

[greygoose in reply to Diyena]

Sea salt. Iodised salt has too many chemicals to make it stay dry and not clog. Sea salt is natural.

Thyroxine is made up of iodine and tyrosine, so one molecule of T4 has four atoms of iodine - hence the name. When T4 is converted to T3, one atom of iodine is removed and goes back into the blood to be recycled. So, 100 mcg of T4 contains 60 mcg iodine. Also, given that your gland can no-longer make the hormone it used to, you do not need as much iodine as you used to. Therefore taking more on top of what you get in food and what you get in your thyroid hormone replacement, would superfluous. And excess iodine is not a good thing to have.

[Hidden]

I am interested in this question too - what happens if you have to have a CT with contrast - which I believe is iodine given by IV? I had one a few weeks ago (thorax to pelvis looking for NH Lynphoma) but haven't noticed any adverse effects relating to my hypothyroidism?

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Well, that's just a one-off, isn't it. The body can cope with that. It's when you're taking extra every day that there's a problem.

Except for people who are allergic to iodine, of course, that could be a problem. And, I know some say that you can't be allergic to iodine but Hashi's people often are. I am.

[nightingale-56 in reply to greygoose]

Don't know about being allergic to iodine GG, but I was violently sick a few hours after I had a CT scan last November. It carried on the rest of the day, but does not seem to have had a lasting effect.

[greygoose in reply to nightingale-56]

I don't think vomiting is a symptom of iodine allergy. But, you never know. Symptoms are so variable.

[nightingale-56 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for this reply GG. The doctor I saw next day (I was in hospital) said it was just bad luck.

[greygoose in reply to nightingale-56]

He could have been right. But then again, it could have been a shot in the dark, hoping you wouldn't know any better. lol

[nightingale-56 in reply to greygoose]

I did know better though and had argued with them about not having the medium, but they said they could not get a good enough picture without it. I stupidly let them go ahead. Will stand my ground if it is ever needed again (hope not).

[greygoose in reply to nightingale-56]

It's really about time they found something to replace the iodine. But I suppose they think it's innocuous.

[nightingale-56 in reply to greygoose]

I's about time they did a lot of things, but I'm sure they won't.

[greygoose in reply to nightingale-56]

You're probably right!

[janiebell]

I have hashi and took vit supps for years which contained Iodine. I also had a contrast xray around 20 years ago. I decided to have my iodine tested and it is way above the normal limit. Probably the xray. If i take a supp containing Iodine now, i feel hyper within an hour or two. No one has been able to tell me whether its a problem or not to have Iodine so far out of range.

[Anthea55 in reply to janiebell]

I also took supplements containing iodine.

A few months ago I had a test (among many others) for iodine which showed that it was 'more than adequate'. Looking into it further I discovered that I should have been asked to avoid medication and nutritional supplements (and probably fish and iodised salt) the day before the test, but was not told this, so had taken my normal NDT. To my mind this test was a waste of time (and money).

Next time I will take the test sample at home, early in the day, before any NDT.

What I'm trying to say is that it seems that the iodine test is influenced by any iodine you've taken recently. This includes thyroid medication containing T3 or T4.

[greygoose in reply to Anthea55]

I'm not sure that taking your NDT the day of the test will influence it. Because the iodine contained in the thyroid hormones will not be instantly available. It's only when conversion takes place that iodine is set free, and that doesn't happen the instant you put it in your mouth.

However, taking any form of thyroid hormone replacement over time, will increase your iodine levels. And, as you are no-longer using as much - because your gland is out of action - it will mount up in the blood to a certain extent. It is therefore very unlikely that you are going to test deficient once you been taking NDT for a while, so yes, the test was a waste of time and money.

[Anthea55 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for that, greygoose

That urine sample was taken in the afternoon, by which time I had taken 2 of my usual doses of NDT. It will be interesting to see if there is any change to my levels when I have a follow up test.

[greygoose in reply to Anthea55]

I'd be very surprised if there was.

[Anthea55 in reply to greygoose]

I'll let you know.