Hashimoto's and Iodine Supplementation - Thyroid UK

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Hashimoto's and Iodine Supplementation

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I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's 2 years ago and have faithfully stayed away from foods and supplements containing iodine. My latest blood test show I am now deficient in Iodine:

Iodine, Serum or Plasma 30.1 ug/L ( 40.0-92.0 ug/L)

Free T3 2.9 pg/mL (2.0-4.4 pg/mL)

Free T4 1.11ng/mL (0.82-1.77 ng/dL)

TSH 5.500 ulU/mL (0.45-4.500 ulU/mL)

TPO 227 lU/mL (0-34 lU/mL) **down from 365**

Thyroglobulin Antibody <1.0 (0.0-0.9lU/mL)

I am currently not taking any hormone replacement because they made me feel awful. Right now I feel great without medicine. Ultrasound shows some of the inflammation has gone down on my thyroid. I'm eating a gluten and dairy free diet and I'm considering NDT. My TSH, T3, T4 has remained steady for the past 10 months.

My endocrinologist suggest to "add extra iodine supplement to your diet; antibodies continue to improve." I've read several articles "for" and "against" iodine supplementation for Hashimoto's. Has anyone had success adding iodine to their diet and if so how did you approach it?

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17 Replies

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greygoose6 years ago

Who told you to stay away from iodine-containing foods? That's how you're supposed to get your iodine. No wonder you're now deficient. Why not just start eating high iodine foods, and forget the supplement. They level should come back up naturally.

Besides, when you start taking thyroid hormone replacement, that will give you iodine. There's 65 mcg iodine in 100 mcg T4. 48.75 mcg iodine in 100 mcg T3. And 29 mcg iodine in 1 grain of NDT. Approximately, of course.

• in reply togreygoose6 years ago

Thank you, greygoose! Well, my endo told me to stay away from iodine because it could increase the attack on my thyroid and now she's telling me that a little iodine may help.

I'll take your advice and start eating iodine rich food. Thank you for the NDT info as well.

greygoose• in reply to6 years ago

You're welcome. But, I don't think iodine will help your Hashi's in any way. I don't really think she knows what she's talking about.

Heloise6 years ago

Are you taking any other supplements for your thyroid? It needs tyrosine and selenium. I've taken 1000 mcgs of sea iodine at times but I am on thyroid hormone as well and do not have TPO antibodies. I know some doctors are totally against iodine but this one points out something that may make a difference.

youtube.com/watch?v=a_CEvkj...

• in reply toHeloise6 years ago

This is a great video! He hits on all the reasons why doctors are split on the use of iodine. I just started taking 200mg of selenium and 350 mg of tyrosine with B6 once a day. I want to take selenium for a month before consuming iodine. Maybe this will protect my thyroid against possible harmful effects of iodine and help lower my TSH and increase my T4 and T3.

It's strange. When I was first diagnosed my TSH was 3.3 and I felt like death warmed over. Now at 5.50, I feel normal and alive!? I have more energy, no more panic attacks and anxiety, my hair is thicker, warmer body temp, etc. I should be feeling terrible, but I don't. How could this be? I still haven't found any answers. Not even from my endo.

greygoose• in reply to6 years ago

Chaunda, I don't think you understand what Hashi's is. There's nothing wrong with your thyroid, it doesn't need help. But, it's being attacked by your immune system and slowly destroyed. Iodine isn't going to stop that, and could make things worse. After all, if your factory burns down, shovelling in more raw ingredients, isn't going to increase production, is it. Your thyroid is incapable of increasing its output of T4 because there's not enough thyroid left. Taking iodine will not lower your TSH or increase your T4.

The TSH is not a reliable indicator of thyroid status. And, when you have Hashi's, it will jump around a little. And, it's not the TSH that makes you feel anything, whatever the level. It's the FT3 level that causes symptoms, when it's low, and makes you feel well when it's at the right level. Nothing to do with the TSH.

• in reply togreygoose6 years ago

It was my experience around the time I was diagnosed that the supplements I was taking which had 100% RDA of iodine caused a flare. When I stopped taking it then I felt better and my TPO decreased. So for me the iodine made a bad situation even worse. I hope this clarifies the statement I made about the possible "harmful" side effect of me taking iodine.

greygoose• in reply to6 years ago

Why not just cut out the iodine supplement, anyway? It does make a bad situation worse. And, there's no way it's going to help your thyroid because low iodine is not what has caused your hypo. Even with the other other supplements. It's far from being a magic potion, and is actually anti-thyroid in excess.

Mary-intussuception• in reply to6 years ago

Not sure why you would take B6? How much are you taking daily ?

Did you have symptoms of B6 deficiency?

Have you been tested and found defiicient?

Most people are aware that the 'B' vitamins are water soluble. However too much B6 (one of the exceptions) can be toxic.

• in reply toMary-intussuception6 years ago

B6 assists amino acid metabolism. 5mg every other day with N-Acetyl Tyrosine (which is more bioavailable). Both help improve your overall mood as well.

I did not test for B6 deficiency.

I have no signs of toxicity.

Heloise• in reply to6 years ago

Chaunda, I hope you stay here you would be a help to others. You've gone about this in a smart way. I often post John Bergman's (brilliant) How to Heal You Thyroid and Adrenals and David Clark's 20 reasons for low thyroid. Izabelle Wentz' Thyroid Secret and other summits have revealed so much about the triggers for Hashimoto's. they have found Epstein Barre virus in the gland itself. So many complicated issues and it's no wonder it is difficult to find answers but you certainly are on the right track. Best wishes.

• in reply toHeloise6 years ago

Heloise, thank you so much for your encouraging words! I'm familiar with all the great sources you listed! And you're right, there are so many complicated issues and inconclusive or weak info. So that's why it's so important to stay positive when there's a tidal wave of info out there yet clueless as to what applies to my situation. Best wishes to you as well! Keep sharing those videos!

Mary-intussuception6 years ago

Your TSH is too high so Pituitary Gland is overworking. & Ft3 very low in range. Thyroxine replacement is for life.

radd6 years ago

Chaunda,

Supplementing iodine will increase any present Hashi inflammation so you need to reduce thyroid antibodies further to discourage inflammatory activity.

Also, ensure all nutrients (especially selenium & zinc) are optimal and stuff like gut issues have been addressed.

The thyroid reduces iodide into iodine and has to split ions which causes an oxidative reaction by the hydrogen peroxide required to make hormones.

Selenium helps regulate & recycles iodine stores but also helps protect against this oxidative damage (inflammation). It is also the base of the 5’-deiodinase enzyme & helps in making the enzymes that remove the iodine molecules from T4, making T3.

I haven’t supplemented iodine as always had thyroid antibodies so wouldn’t chance an attack. You may find just eating foods containing iodine is enough as we only require a minuscule amount and you don’t want to go over.

Great you appear to be managing Hashi so well.

6 years ago

Thank you! I couldn't have said it better myself! I found this information myself and based my decision to not supplement with iodine on it and my personal experience.

I have successfully addressed gut issues and my vitamin D, B12, and iron are in the mid to top range. And I am starting selenium.

dylansmum6 years ago

Hi Hidden, I wonder how you manage to get blood tests, that tell you vitamin levels etc? I have Hashimotos, I only get one TSH blood test per year, it's usually too high or too low, my GPs receptionist usually rings me to tell me to lower Levo or up it a bit! I never feel well, and often wonder why I bother to take it at all.

I was told I had Hashimotos when diagnosed 15 years ago, I was given Levo and that was it! To be honest I thought Hashimotos was just a name for underactive thyroid! I wasn't told anything about it.

helvella• in reply todylansmum6 years ago

When you see a user name of Hidden, it means that the person is no longer a member of this forum.

We often close posts that were originated by people who have left - there is no point in wasting our time making replies. Occasionally, the thread might still be active and popular and will be left. More often, it is simply a case of none of the admins noticing!

I shall now be closing this post to replies.