Iodine urine test and hair loss: Can anyone... - Thyroid UK

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Iodine urine test and hair loss

Karen154 profile image
30 Replies

Can anyone please advise of iodine test results.

Range .29 to 2.26 test result .81 normal

Creatinine range 100 to 500 result 133

Iodine urine 108ugl not range with this. Don't know what this means.

I feel this is low and i have excess hair loss. I'd like to raise my iodine to mid range normal. Previously i tried a iodine supplement which triggered a autoimmune response. This resulted in scaring hair loss so i am concerned.

A member previously advised of a specifi iodine to take. But I can't find the post now.

A GP won't prescribe iodine as the test was normal and the nhs refused to test my iodine.

Many Thanks

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Karen154
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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Who did you do the test with?

Was it a loading iodine test (where you take a dose of iodine before the test)?

Did the result come with a graphic as well as the numbers, it's so much easier to see where you fall within the range when you see it on a scale or a graph.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply toSeasideSusie

Hi seaside sue, no it was just a urine test first thing in the morning. Medicheck did the test.

Xx

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toKaren154

Karen154

OK, thanks.

I'm not familiar with this test.

Range .29 to 2.26 test result .81 normal

This is 26% through the range.

I can't help with the other tests I'm afraid.

Check out iodine rich foods:

bda.uk.com/foodfacts/iodine...

greygoose profile image
greygoose

If you are taking thyroid hormone replacement, you are already getting extra iodine. 100 mcg levo contains 65 mcg iodine which is recycled in the body.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply togreygoose

Hi greygoose, im taking 50ml of lev and pretty good on this dose. The five years of different doses and trying different forms of thyroid meds haven't improved my hair loss. Definitely made it worse while adjusting to dose.

Xx

Lora7again profile image
Lora7again in reply toKaren154

Have you tried NDT? It helped me I have just replied to your other thread and did not see this one. What are your thyroid levels? Also your hair will continue to fall out until your levels have been stable for several months.

Assiya profile image
Assiya in reply toLora7again

Youmean lugol iodine?

Lora7again profile image
Lora7again in reply toAssiya

No I do not

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lugol...

Assiya profile image
Assiya in reply toLora7again

Thank you, Il read it, was asking Kareen if she meant this iodine.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply toAssiya

Hi, i don't know. It was just a urine iodine test. Xx

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply toAssiya

I really don't know. I wrote what was on the test. I wouldn't know what it means.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply toLora7again

No I haven't. Tired T3 made it worse and tried liquid thyroxine but had a allergic to the preservative and a capsule, forget the name now but had to import that from the states. It was ok but didn't feel great with it.

I don't think it's the thyroid anymore or even a deficiency. God knows what causes this in women.

I feel a diagnosis of female hair loss is just a cop out really as there is no test for it. It's just an oppinon.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toKaren154

50mcg Levothyroxine is only a starter dose

What are your most recent Thyroid and vitamin results and ranges

Essential to test Ft3 and all four vitamins need to be optimal

Vitamin D at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol may be better

Ferritin at least half way in range

B12 at least over 500

Folate at least over ten

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 regularly

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply toSlowDragon

I dropped the dose to 50 ml as my hair recedes at 75 but only when I'm having a period. At 100ml my hand burn up and top scalp and lashes fall out. I'm really cold now and thyroid is probably under active but I can't stand the temperature in my hands at a higher dose. There hasn't been a comfortable dose since I was 43. I really out of ideas now. Posted a few updates on the other post _ DHT and female hair loss.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toKaren154

Well 75mcg is only one step up from starter dose

Likely still under medicated on 75mcg

Most people need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine per day

Dose of Levothyroxine by weight is 1.6mcg per kilo of your weight

Increase slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until this dose is reached. Retesting 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

New NICE guidelines

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...

1.3.6

Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.

Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten.

So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

If you have Hashimoto's then iodine is very controversial and NOT recommended

drknews.com/iodine-and-hash...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)

All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toKaren154

Right, well, this thread has got pretty complicated, with people jumping in. :) So, I hope you see this response.

So, you're taking liquid levo, are you? Well, there's still the same iodine content because one molecule of T4 contains 4 atoms of iodine, that's what T4 is.

I don't know how many mcg equals 50 ml of levo, but you'll still be getting some iodine from it. I really don't think you want to take more. Too much iodine is a very bad thing to have.

And there are so many possible causes for hair-loss, you shouldn't become obsessed by iodine. For example, what is your ferritin level? Low iron it terrible for hair.

Trillylil profile image
Trillylil in reply togreygoose

Thanks for this information. I’ve been on Levo for 17 years and never knew it contained iodine.

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply toTrillylil

That must be why we can’t take kelp because that is full of it.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toTrillylil

Levo is the thyroid hormone T4. One molecule of T4 contains 4 atoms of iodine. That is what T4 is: iodine plus tyrosine - T for tyrosine and 4 for the four atoms of iodine.

T3 is tyrosine plus three atoms of iodine.

Myro profile image
Myro

How to say anything?

-Generally advice to take iodine is not accepted by medicine science.

-Many people takes iodine and say they have success with their symptoms.

-You have tried to do test iodine urine test. You have stayed with short sleeve shirt in the middle of winter. No advice, no explanation. And you did not write units in your answers. If they are not written, results cannot be understandable. Not intence to be in fog?

- Most accurate urine test is made by collecting 24 hours urine for sample. 100-200 micro g/l indicate adequate iodine intake of iodine. This method is good only to show very low iodine level. Critically low.

-Because Japan people, take with food 12 mg of iodine every day. If they produce 5 l (rarely half of that) of urine and 90 % of iodine is splashed in 24 hours with urine, how much it has to be in urine? No sence. 12 mg = 12 000 micro g. Divided with 5 l urine = 5400 micro g iodine per l of urine.

So. How to say anything?

-I have to say that I do not understand that.

-I am tacking iodine by my decision. By my protocol.

-I believe that I have become highly disabled because of chronic lack of iodine. Read about consequences of iodine lack. Terrible. Deadly.

- I have found out that any thyroid affecting substance should be started and changed by very small dose. I started by 0,6 mg of iodine and felt it strongly. Otherwise allergy or intolerance would be say it is to be. No sence. Many people do not not have this troubles.

-After 3 weeks of tacking iodine my hair loss stopped.

It is not understandable. There is many different cases. Even by regular dose my hair lose is happening now. Virus has certainly big influence, bigger ... I am just a small pure grain in the big mill of medicine and nature.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply toMyro

What brand of iodine are you taking and where are you buying it from please. Also what is your thyroid condition is over or under active.

Myro profile image
Myro in reply toKaren154

It is important dose. I have explained. It is important to write down everything. Your symptoms, results of all thyroid hormones and anybodies tests. To write down what you want to achieve and how. What can happen. Symptoms of that. What is to do if unwanted symptoms will come out. ... in what cases or time frame you will do hormone tests to prove it is all right.

Brand is no important. Starting dose, increasing dose, stopping dose, change - down dose, permanent dose.

It is a big study needed before you start anything affecting thyroid function. Lugol's solutions are good source. But dose should be made by tacking a part of water in which you put a drop of solution.

Funktion of thyroid hormones, levels, rations between them ... Symptoms of hipo and hiperthyroidism and lack of iodine and consequences of each.

It is not so simple. Study first.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply toMyro

As i have said, i want to achieve a mid range iodine level to see if jt improves health and hair loss. I have provided all the information i was given from the test.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toMyro

Do you have any good evidence that "Japan people" take 12 milligrams of iodine every day?

ABSTRACT: Japanese iodine intake from edible seaweeds is amongst the highest in the world. Predicting the type and amount of seaweed the Japanese consume is difficult due to day-to-day meal variation and dietary differences between generations and regions. In addition, iodine content varies considerably between seaweed species, with cooking and/or processing having an influence on iodine content. Due to all these factors, researchers frequently overestimate, or underestimate, Japanese iodine intake from seaweeds, which results in misleading and potentially dangerous diet and supplementation recommendations for people aiming to achieve the same health benefits seen by the Japanese. By combining information from dietary records, food surveys, urine iodine analysis (both spot and 24-hour samples) and seaweed iodine content, we estimate that the Japanese iodine intake--largely from seaweeds--averages 1,000-3,000 μg/day (1-3 mg/day).

researchgate.net/publicatio...

Myro profile image
Myro in reply tohelvella

I am sorry, but I don't have proof. It is stereotype that Japan people take 12 mg of iodine daily. It is repeated so many times that it is taken like truth.. I am just a poor disabled guy with no energy and money to check all that things. Thank you for information.

1, 000 - 3000 mcg per day still means concentration in urine (3l of urine) 1000 mcg = 1mg per l. What is by medical standards too much. 5times too much.

Like I sad. I don't understand. I have explained my experience with iodine.

Like this stereotype there are many in official medicine and doctors treat people on the base of that. One biggest is TSH. If it is OK, person has enough iodine and well levels of thyroid hormones. I am live example that it is not truth. My hormones were well ever. My iodine deficiency has been never discovered. But I had all symptoms of iodine lack. Wisible by eye. I believed that iodine in salt is sufficient for body needs. And because of high bloud pressure I limited salt ingestion. I shoot myself in my own knee.

Do You have any information what can cause bigger iodine need? For virus infection I have big suspecting it is one of cases. Thank you again.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply tohelvella

The Japanese are the heaviest race on the planet. It has to be the diet.

I was expecting a 24hr urine sample but received a small container.

I feel there is room improvement with my iodine levels. I'd like to try so would like to know the types of iodine available and dosage.

I don't want a repeat of autominue response.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toKaren154

I don't know why you say that about Japanese? What I can find suggests otherwise.

This paper compares Japanese in Japan, Japanese in Australia and Caucasian in Australia (young men only) and comes to the oppostie conclusion.

cambridge.org/core/services...

Although not a race, it is usual to find USA at the top of weight analyses.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply tohelvella

Japanese have much lower cancer rates then the west countries.

Anyway the post is becoming way off the topic.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154 in reply toMyro

I also found the virus thins my hair out and it doesn't recover.

I wonder if you hace autoimmune disease.

Myro profile image
Myro

Dose! Low, very low starting dose, increasing dose every few days! I deeply feel allergy or intolerance do not exist. But iodine and all other!!! thyroid gland affecting substances are powerful. No body can explain why some people has big trouble when they get iodine for scanning examination and other do not. Why some has trouble when starting thyroid hormones, other not. It is only sand in the eyes - allergy or intolerance. In that case we all should be died. For allergy amount of allergen is not important. Even smallest amount can cause anaphylactic shock.

If unwanted symptoms come out - to high dose, to high increasing dose, the highest dose reached, need to go down with dose. All that to by done with symptoms and checked by tests! Study first.

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