Iodine

[Satva]

Any thoughts of taking Iodine, orally, as well as taking 50mg of Levo for hypothyroidism?

Thanks

Satva

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Satva

Only supplement with iodine if you've tested with a non-loading iodine test and found to be deficient. Then it should be taken under the guidance of an experienced practitioner as there is a protocol to follow.

Iodine solution used to be used to treat overactive thyroid before the current radioactive iodine treatment. It can cause hypothyroidism or make hypothyroidism worse.

If you take Levo you are already getting about 62mcg iodine per 100mcg Levo. We can get iodine from diet, milk, yogurt, cod, haddock, etc.

[Satva in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks very much. I did a skin test today with iodine (15% solution of, Lugol's) and within 15 mins it had all been absorbed. it should take up to 5 hours! I have no confidence in my doc, after taking 50mg of Levo she still tells me I am a border-line case! The lack of motivation, depression and lethagy is the problem, as well as weight gain. Maybe something else is causing these symptoms. I guess a private test would be the answer. Kind regards.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Satva]

The skin test has been debunked.

Genova Diagnostics do the non loading iodine test:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

[ainslie in reply to SeasideSusie]

HiInterested to hear the skin test has been debunked, my partner is currently under care of Roderick Lane and he uses the skin test for testing and iodine supplementation . So naturally we are very curious to hear more about why it was debunked and by who. thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ainslie]

helvella

I don't have the information about the skin patch test saved, do you have anything?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to SeasideSusie]

Two documents. The first is by a doctor well known for being relatively supportive of iodine supplementation. That is, it is not from the point of view of being against using iodine.

I'm not complaining about any members asking about patch testing. (That is why we are here!) But it is deeply questionable that so many who claim to know about iodine promote patch testing. Despite pretty much never producing any evidence at all as to its effectiveness, and clearly having blind faith in it. That very much includes people who make money out of their websites, supplement sales, etc.

The Bioavailability of Iodine Applied to the Skin

by Guy E. Abraham, MD

optimox.com/iodine-study-20

And this is the document which forms part of the basis for that opinion.

helvella - Iodine Patch Test

Why the iodine patch test is not appropriate for indicating iodine status.

From Dropbox:

dropbox.com/s/a4xpwn6fwc42g...

From Google Drive:

drive.google.com/file/d/1C1...

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to helvella]

Thanks H.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ainslie]

ainslie

Helvella has kindly provided some information above.

[ainslie in reply to SeasideSusie]

thank you very much for responding and hellvela for helpful info, I will have a good read

[Satva in reply to SeasideSusie]

Meant to ask, what is a non-loading test?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Satva]

It's where you don't take a loading dose of iodine before the test. It measures your existing level of iodine. It's a urine test.

[Satva in reply to SeasideSusie]

Many thanks for your help.

[susie193 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Wow, I learned something new, I didn't know there was iodine in Levo. Thanks for that.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to susie193]

That is why levothyroxine is often called T4 - it has four iodine atoms in each molecule.

Hence the FT4 test.

And T3 has three.

[Lalatoot]

Sativa, as you've been on a starter dose of levo for 2 years it might be beneficial to see what your actual thyroid blood results are and consider whether your dose is too low for you. Doctors say things such as borderline, normal or fine if results are within range but this doesn't mean that you result is the best for you .My endo kept my results just in range for 4 years and I still had lots of symptoms. I learnt on here that I was not on a high enough dose of levo. What matters if finding the Kev's within range that are best for you.

Levothyroxine tablets contain iodine so you are already getting additional.

[Satva in reply to Lalatoot]

Thanks, convincing the medics is the challenge!!!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

50mcg levothyroxine is only standard STARTER dose levothyroxine

Please add most recent thyroid and vitamin results

Likely to be on inadequate dose levothyroxine

ALWAYS test thyroid levels early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Likely to have low vitamin levels, if been left under medicated

ESSENTIAL To test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once a year

Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo

How old are you approx

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

[Satva in reply to SlowDragon]

The problem is my doc won't increase my dosage because she says I don't have Hashimto and I'm borderline hypo. The lab won't test T4, depending on the result of TSH!

I started, in Nov 2020, TSH 5.85 and T4 12.6.

In Jan '21 TSH was 2.91 (T4 not tested) and Vit D 6.3

Feb '22, TSH was 3.86, (no T4.) Vit D was 109, replete the results said!

Folate was ok, B12 too and Vit D. I had been taking Vit D3 + K2 vits , which had clearly increased my Vit D levels!

Just for info - I buy from British Supplements, who are an ethical company, only using the pure ingredients of the supplements - no fillers, nasty bulking agents etc. Check them out, they are a good company and have many products.

I'm in my 60's and yes, about 2 stone o/weight, which I am trying to lose!

I still have thick hair, and not losing any of it!

I eat a healthy diet, mainly veggie, but some chicken, don't eat junk food, rarely drink alcohol. I don't like most fish and worry about the levels of pollution in our oceans so salmon & seafood is rare.

I guess, I will have to try private testing to determine the T4, T3 etc.

We seem to go round and round with the NHS testings offered and the advice they give. It is very confusing. I wish I hadn't started on levo and tried to resolve it myself...

Thank you for all your help & advice, moving forward.

S.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Satva]

Get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing done privately

Come back with new post once you get results

See different GP

Levothyroxine doesn’t top up failing thyroid, it replaces it ….so almost everyone will need to be on absolute minimum of 75mcg daily….typically it will be approx 1.6mcg per kilo per day….unless extremely petite it’s likely to be at least 100mcg per day

If still no progress

Email Thyroid U.K. for list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologist and doctors

[e-mail]

[SlowDragon Administrator]

pathlabs.rlbuht.nhs.uk/tft_...Guiding Treatment with Thyroxine:

In the majority of patients 50-100 μg thyroxine can be used as the starting dose. Alterations in dose are achieved by using 25-50 μg increments and adequacy of the new dose can be confirmed by repeat measurement of TSH after 2-3 months.

The majority of patients will be clinically euthyroid with a ‘normal’ TSH and having thyroxine replacement in the range 75-150 μg/day (1.6ug/Kg on average).

The recommended approach is to titrate thyroxine therapy against the TSH concentration whilst assessing clinical well-being. The target is a serum TSH within the reference range.

……The primary target of thyroxine replacement therapy is to make the patient feel well and to achieve a serum TSH that is within the reference range. The corresponding FT4 will be within or slightly above its reference range.

The minimum period to achieve stable concentrations after a change in dose of thyroxine is two months and thyroid function tests should not normally be requested before this period has elapsed.

[Capri2020]

It's best to do your own research to begin with. You have to go deep & look at data etc. There are numerous post on here too, search through them and look at the links attached. Read up on Dr David Brownstein's work, get his book, another book by Lynne Farrow- The Iodine Crisis and more. Tons of information out there and you'll have to put the time in if you really want to understand this subject. My private endo is pro iodine, I was pleasantly surprised by that and since taking it on a daily basis I managed to reduce my T3 med from 45mcg to 20mcg.

[edited by admin to remove excessive links]

[Satva in reply to Capri2020]

Thanks. I was recommended the book you mention. Interesting too that your T3 meds reduced. Iodine is vital for the body.

[Hafa]

If there's iodine in levo, would it be prudent to use non-iodized salt?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hafa]

Most salt in the UK is not iodised, nor is iodised salt used in food processing. If someone wants iodised salt they have to make an effort to find it.

[Satva in reply to SeasideSusie]

That's good to know. I use Himalayan pink salt or Celtic grey salt. They both have trace minerals. Table salt has anti-caking agents in it, I personally don't touch it. I've also read they mine is using aluminium....😆

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Satva]

I don't know what to make of "using aluminium"?

As I understand, Himalayan salt is at least mostly mined.

Lots of salt is extracted by pumping water.

[Hafa in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks! I live in France and it's the typical salt sold in supermarkets. I'm using sea salt in a salt grinder to avoid extra iodine.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hafa]

Virtually all salt in the UK is non-iodized.

And you make it read as if iodine is an added ingredient in levothyroxine tablets.

The point is, a large percentage of levothyroxine molecules consists of iodine atoms.

My Vade Mecum has a section on the iodine percentages in thyroid hormones.

helvella - Vade Mecum for Thyroid

The term vade mecum means:

1. A referential book such as a handbook or manual.

2. A useful object, constantly carried on one’s person.

Please don't get put off by the number of pages!

Nor by the fact it is targeted at people interested in thyroid issues. Much of its contents could be of use to many involved in health issues. Things like abbreviations, lists, general reference information.

In particular, it is not intended that you sit and read the document. Just that you download it and know you can look things up.

If there is anything you'd like me to add, let me know.

Not everything is in this one document - my major medicines document is still separate!

From Dropbox:

dropbox.com/s/vp5ct1cwc03bl...

From Google Drive:

drive.google.com/file/d/1P9...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Caution is required with iodine supplementation. Excess can be damaging.

Iodine as a potential endocrine disruptor-a role of oxidative stress

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thyroid and the environment: exposure to excessive nutritional iodine increases the prevalence of thyroid disorders in São Paulo, Brazil

eje.bioscientifica.com/view...

Excess Iodine Intake

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Hollingirl]

Only supplement AFTER testing and seeing you are low. I had a small nodule 2 years ago and my acupuncturist suggested iodine would rid me of it. I though “why not” After 6 months of iodine supplementation I had 4 nodules and the original was 5 times the size. Just had a thyroidectomy. All docs I saw believe the unnecessary iodine was a significant contributor. It’s not for messing around with or “trying”

[Capri2020]

I've just noticed that admin has removed all of the links in my post? Why is that?? It feels very wrong, didn't know there was censorship on here. I'm shocked!

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Capri2020]

Capri2020, Please read through our forum guidelines. What you apparently consider to be 'censorship', is simply admin doing their best to keep everyone here happy. It may be reasonable to post one or maybe even two links to relevant Youtube videos, but, as the explanation in your comment states, 'excessive' links are not acceptable to other members. healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Capri2020]

Instead of keeping the relevant links in my post then (hopefully you watched all of them), admin decided to remove all of them. That doesn't sound right to me. Would be nice to have freedom of choice for each person to decide for themselves what they consider useful, helpful etc for themselves. People stumble upon all sorts of Information and they at least have the chance to look at it, ignore it and digest it. Also, one thing can lead to another and that way certain things really start to make more sense to figure out your own puzzle in your own situation. Makes me wonder why otherwise spend time on here and share info to help others? It's disappointing..

[Satva in reply to Capri2020]

Thanks Capri2020. Yes received and very interesting. Take care.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Did you get full thyroid test done yet and next dose increase in levothyroxine up to 75mcg daily

Saw your comment that GP said your vitamin D was replete

Optimal vitamin D is at least over 80nmol

Suggest you include vitamin testing privately

vitamin levels may be dropping left on inadequate dose levothyroxine

If you have hypothyroid symptoms dose levothyroxine should be increased slowly upwards in 25mcg steps

Optimal TSH is 0.4-1.5 for someone on levothyroxine is

NHS England Liothyronine guidelines July 2019

 

sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploa...

Page 9 

Test for Deficiency of any of the following: Vitamin B12, Folate,  Vitamin D, Iron

See page 13 

1. Where symptoms of hypothyroidism persist despite optimal dosage with levothyroxine. (TSH 0.4-1.5mU/L)

TSH over 2 suggests you need dose increase

Obviously need Ft4, Ft3 and BOTH thyroid antibodies tested

ALWAYS test thyroid levels early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery