Should you supplement with Iodine if you have an abnormal thyroid?

[MissFG]

Someone has just stated that their naturopathic doctor recommended iodine as she was hypothyroid is this correct? I thought iodine wasn't recommended so I'd like some clarification please

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

MissFG You will always find opposing views on virtually every subject on the internet. It's a case of finding a reliable source of information.

Iodine shouldn't be supplemented unless tested and a deficiency shows.

Iodine suppresses thyroid function and was (maybe still is) used as a treatment for hyperthyroidism.

Isabella Wentz (Thyroid Pharmacist) seems to be well respected here and she has an article on iodine and Hashimoto's here thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

[MissFG in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you I'll use that info in response to her if needed

[Clutter]

MissFG,

it's a very contentious topic. My opinion is that only iodine deficient people should supplement iodine. UK doesn't iodise salt and other foods. Hypothyroid patients should get the iodine they require from their thyroid replacement and diet. Supplementing iodine can lower thyroid levels and raise TSH which is why it has been used to treat hyperthyroidism. Over supplementing iodine can induce autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's) and trigger flare ups in Hashi diagnosed patients.

[MissFG in reply to Clutter]

How would this affect someone whose been diagnosed with thyroid cancer? I would assume they'll remove some if not all of the thyroid making them hypo so should avoid iodine?

[Clutter in reply to MissFG]

MissFG,

ThyCa patients are usually on higher dose replacement than other hypothyroid patients so we should still be getting sufficient iodine from replacement and diet.

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

Hi Clutter - Iodised salt is sold online through Waitrose and Sainsburys - make cerebos. |I have a nodular diffuse goitre, and have had episodes of thyrotoxicosis

but tests show thyroid level is just below normal. I am supplementing iodine through

recommended foods mentioned on nutritrition org shell fish, white fish, yoghurt milk.

Feel a bit better, after adjusting my carb levels, and using vitamin supplements.

However having had thyroticosis at least twice, I am ware that the thyroid can change

from hyper to hypo, so not sure if supplementing through food sources is not a good thing.

[Clutter in reply to Hidden]

Gadgrantg,

Eating iodine rich food is fine. It's supplements high in iodine which can be problematic for hypothyroid and Hashimoto's patients. Iodine may be helpful for hyperthyroid or thyrotoxic patients.

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

I have had a diffuse nodular goitre for twenty years the size of a golf ball

growing near the sternum. For the past six weeks I have been eating fish several days a week and fish paste, a jar every day, with some natural yoghurt for pudding. My goitre has suddenly shrunk so I can see the

arteries in the front of the neck.

I can't believe it.

[magsyh]

Iodine is a funny thing. Iodine is not recommended if you have hashimotos as it can make your thyroid more active and the hashis worse. Like throwing fuel on the fire they say. I had an iodine deficiency so i took iodine as kelp suppliments for two years. All it did for me was stop bad headaches and lowered my tsh a bit. Now im taking levo i had to stop as even on 25mcg of levo it made my heart race so i dont take it any more. But it concerns me as we all need iodine. The iodine content of 25mcg levo is no good to anybody? Im now forcing myself to eat fish to compensate and im getting far more iodine now from my diet and no racing heartrate? I dont have hashis so im mystified why does iodine from food not effect me but iodine from suppliments does? Perhaps another thyroid mystery x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to magsyh]

magsyh Have you seen the British Dietetic Association's food fact sheet on iodine?

Haddock and cod have excellent iodine content (I love haddock ), but non-organic milk and yogurt have a fair bit too

bda.uk.com/foodfacts/Iodine...

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Iodised salt is available online from waitrose . A half teaspoon gives half the daily

requirement. It could be useful to add in casseroles and soups, or in chicken

and steak pies.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

Cooking causes the iodine to reduce (probably evaporate/sublime). So adding to a casserole may not be sensible.

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Hi Helvella. According to information supplied by Wikipaedia iodised

salt is effective because it not spoil and it's consumption is more

predictable than other food sources. In production where edible salt

is sprayed dextrose is added, to prevent" potassium iodide", rather

than sodium iodide from oxidasing and evaporating.

As it has improved iodine deficiency in many countries, including the US and Switzerland, I think it may help me but not necessarily folk

on levothyroxine.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Hidden I'm fine, my iodine level is good, I tested.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Adding info to your reply to magsyh!

[MissFG in reply to magsyh]

So are you on any medication at the moment if you stopped taking levo? I'm just considering stopping my levo and just taking T3 as I'm sure it's the levo that isn't helping and I don't convert very well either

[magsyh in reply to MissFG]

Im still taking the levo, i have stopped the kelp xx

[MissFG in reply to magsyh]

If there's iodine in levo is it also in T3?

[magsyh in reply to MissFG]

yes 4 molecules in t4 and 3 in t3. This is what happens during conversion, one molecule is removed x

[OldC]

I would recommend you read the works by Dr Brownstein and also Iodine Crisis by Lynne Farrow. It is medically abundantly clear that iodine is need for all manner of biochemical functions.

This brings us to the tricky point about the internet and the advice given to us by the vested interests of the 'orthodoxy'.

We complain they don't listen, do not use the correct blood tests, fail to interpret the levels correctly and do not stay current on data. Add to this there is absolutely no need (acording to them) for T3 supplements, who here is better on T3 or NDT? If you are better its obvious that you are a nutcase as you have gone against their advice.

Then they come out with wonderful statements about iodine levels and people get in a panic. The anti-iodine lobby is based on test sequence done more than 70 years ago that have not been replicated ever since... dodgy science! This test sequence coincided with the release of a new thyroid product...... oh dear.... more dodgy science and commercial interest.

If you are trying to get better from a thyroid condition that has not responded to the medication given to you by them and are seeking answers be careful about all advice whether it be toxicity levels, wonder herbs, amazing guru cures.

Remember this, according to the toxicity charts most of Japan, Iceland and the Inuit are all dead because they were poisoned by excess dietary iodine. Also iodine levels were set when iodine was used in the canning industry, bread making industry and as a commercial steralising agent. The level was set to prevent goiter, not treat thyroid conditions, at the point in history when it was used by the orthodoxy it was used in amazing high doses and very successfully.

So don't panic the naturopath may actually know what he is doing. Mine does and he teaches other doctors and naturopaths how to run the iodine protocol.

Yes i am in favor, no i don't sell it, but after 20 odd years of misery I am going full on for the thing that did work.

C

[Hidden]

Hi Old C - the papers you recommended sound interesting. A recent paper (2011) by the British

Thyroid Association, by Dr Vanderpump, gave results of 737 girls from 14-15, and found 70

percent of the girls were iodine deficient. The Endocrinology Org, recommended that iodised

salt and drinking enough milk, would help to prevent iodine deficiency. Other information

supplied by Dr Myhill.co.uk, supports your belief that iodine can prevent and even cure certain

thyroid conditions. Polycystic breast, and breast cancer can be caused by lack of iodine.

It is suggested that thyroid cancer can be caused by iodine deficiency.

Other information suggests that in the event of nuclear disaster we should take an iodine

tablet before we hide under the table, to protect our thyroid!

[OldC in reply to Hidden]

Iodine is still issued to troops in event of an atomic outrage. Get some in Kim the Korean seems hell bent on it!

[Hidden]

Am looking in B&Q for a mask, and some iodine from the UK as not sure Kim the Korean wouldn't put arsenic in their tablets. Can't seem to find iodine supplements prescribed here, but

am buying fish paste with hopefully no added industrial waste to build up my iodine. Will it be enough to open a jar of fish paste in a case of an atomic outrage?

[OldC in reply to Hidden]

Nope, It might make the cat happy apparently they survive in high levels of radiation. If you go to Thyroid Care Group on facebook you can get the links their or just use Amazon. Lugols Iodine 15%

[Hidden in reply to OldC]

The cat is programmed to pouches and turns up her nose at tin food or fish paste

but she survives on mice. Where can you find lugol 15 percent and should it be

monitored by a doctor? Can you tell me what a ketogenic diet is and where to find it? Have you found any other D range of vitamins and calcium helpful

and also magnesium helpful with broken bones and aches and pains?

[Hidden]

I can only speak from personal experience. I read some information concerning research in

by British Thyroid Association concerning iodine deficiency in737 girls aged 14-15.

70 percent were found to be iodine deficient. Recommendations were for added iodine

in salt, and more milk in the diet. (2011) Dr Myhill.co.uk site showed how iodine deficiency can cause intellectual deficit in the unborn child, polycystic breast , and even cancer.

I have been eating fish several times a week with a jar of fish paste salmon and sardine and tomato, with natural yoghurt with blueberries, for over six weeks and my goitre of over 20 years has shrunk! I would definitely recommend increasing iodine in your food if you are not on levo thryoixine as levothyroxine I believe contains iodine. If you live in the states you can buy Moretons iodised salt, - a half a teaspoon contains 71mc half daily dose. It does not evaporate in cooking and will be absorbed in casseroles vegetables etc.. It is a reliable and predictable source of iodine. Cheers>

[OldC in reply to Hidden]

That's one in the eye for all those people that say diet makes no difference to the thyroid care. Keep it up, I know I am. C

[OldC]

I can only say I contacted Roderick Lane and as many of the Glasgow people can tell you he is most generous with his time. He has a protocol posted at the top of Thyroid Care Group (FB) which you can read. Beyond that I think he would say it's down to individual need and assessment.

I would recommend him but I do not have his level of understanding and skill... that's a life times work.

C

[OldC]

Repeated from earlier post.

I would recommend you read the works by Dr Brownstein and also Iodine Crisis by Lynne Farrow. It is medically abundantly clear that iodine is need for all manner of biochemical functions.

This brings us to the tricky point about the internet and the advice given to us by the vested interests of the 'orthodoxy'.

We complain they don't listen, do not use the correct blood tests, fail to interpret the levels correctly and do not stay current on data. Add to this there is absolutely no need (acording to them) for T3 supplements, who here is better on T3 or NDT? If you are better its obvious that you are a nutcase as you have gone against their advice.

Then they come out with wonderful statements about iodine levels and people get in a panic. The anti-iodine lobby is based on test sequence done more than 70 years ago that have not been replicated ever since... dodgy science! This test sequence coincided with the release of a new thyroid product...... oh dear.... more dodgy science and commercial interest.

If you are trying to get better from a thyroid condition that has not responded to the medication given to you by them and are seeking answers be careful about all advice whether it be toxicity levels, wonder herbs, amazing guru cures.

Remember this, according to the toxicity charts most of Japan, Iceland and the Inuit are all dead because they were poisoned by excess dietary iodine. Also iodine levels were set when iodine was used in the canning industry, bread making industry and as a commercial steralising agent. The level was set to prevent goiter, not treat thyroid conditions, at the point in history when it was used by the orthodoxy it was used in amazing high doses and very successfully.

So don't panic the naturopath may actually know what he is doing. Mine does and he teaches other doctors and naturopaths how to run the iodine protocol.

Yes i am in favor, no i don't sell it, but after 20 odd years of misery I am going full on for the thing that did work.

[Hidden]

That's an interesting comment on re reading concerning a goitre not being a thyroid disorder -

as I had a slight goitre with thyrotoxicosis, many years ago - it was never diagnosed by the psychiatrist, when in a unit, and was given toxic drugs which induced liver damage - anxiety attacks were misdiagnosed as heart palpitations with hyperactive thyroid. The goitre had grown over 30 years, but since increasing iodine in the diet, one side has gone down. Your encouragement to continue to increase iodine, is helpful. Thanks.