iodine? Or not?

[Artless]

I am thinking of getting supplements to help my general all round health but was just offered iodine at a health store. Didn't think it was wise to take Iodine when on thyroid meds. Can anyone advise me please?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Artless

Health store assistants are there to sell and although they may have some training it obviously doesn't include telling people to test certain things before supplementing. Iodine comes within this category.

Iodine solution used to be used to treat hypERthyroidism before the current radioactive iodine treatmet and cause hypOthyroidism or make it worse.

Please do not take iodine unless you test. Genova Diagnostics offer a non-loading iodine test which is said to be the best test.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Don’t take any vitamin supplements at all until tested FIRST

Definitely NOT iodine

Test Vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 and thyroid antibodies

[Artless in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks I will hang on for a test. Its just feels good to be proactive instead of feeling like a helpless victim 😱

[greygoose]

Very unlikely you actually need it - more is not better, and can be dangerous where iodine is concerned. You will be getting about 65 mcg iodine from 100 mcg T4, plus what you get from your food, and that at a time when you need less iodine, not more, because your thyroid isn't making hormone any more.

[Lilou1952 in reply to greygoose]

In the UK the only reason to take iodine would be in the event of nuclear attack and local authorities have stocks for this exact purpose.World wide it's a different story. Below from Wikipedia

Iodine deficiency is a lack of the trace element iodine, an essential nutrient in the diet. It may result in metabolic problems such as goiter, sometimes as an endemic goiter as well as congenital iodine deficiency syndrome due to untreated congenital hypothyroidism, which results in developmental delays and other health problems. Iodine deficiency is an important global health issue, especially for fertile and pregnant women. It is also a preventable cause of intellectual disability.

[greygoose in reply to Lilou1952]

Even in the UK, some people can be iodine deficient.

[Lilou1952 in reply to greygoose]

Yes very true but rare - and is this not more associated with poverty than geography? I hate that people are exploited by supplements that offer no benefit. It's more about the cash than helping people. We are an Island nation surrounded by the sea and diverse ways to get our nutrients. Whenever I go to Blakeney I cook Samphire- OK that marks me out as a middle class idiot but its pretty much free! Sending a hug!

[greygoose in reply to Lilou1952]

In what way would it be associated with poverty?

[Lilou1952 in reply to greygoose]

Really poor diet rather than geography. I have not come across a UK citizen iodine deficient in 40 years and I have looked. I have lurked on this forum for 2 years and learnt so much. J

[Lilou1952 in reply to Lilou1952]

'This is information I did not know and its interesting."In the 1800s, iodine deficiency was historically common in the UK. By the early part of the 20th century a goitre belt was described that extended from the West Country and included Derbyshire – where goitre was so common it was called ‘Derbyshire neck’. Iodine deficiency persisted until the 1960s and was eradicated, not by the usual practice of an iodised-salt programme, but through an adventitious increase in milk-iodine concentration and concurrent increase in milk consumption.7 Milk-iodine concentration increased as a result of changes in the dairy-farming industry with increased use of iodine-fortified cattle feed and iodine-containing disinfectants (iodophors). Between the 1950s and the 1980s, iodine intake increased three-fold and was sufficient to eradicate goitre; 7 it was subsequently assumed that iodine deficiency was not a problem in the UK."

[greygoose in reply to Lilou1952]

Yes, I have heard that before.

[greygoose in reply to Lilou1952]

As you say, it is rare, but I have seen it on here, when people give their test results. The important thing is to get tested.

[Hedgeree in reply to Lilou1952]

I realise this post is two months old but I managed to miss it. I have a severe iodine deficiency identified after doing the test for iodine levels in urine.

[Positivevibes3]

I bought iodine salt in Sainsbury's and I feel that helped me.

[greygoose in reply to Positivevibes3]

Not a good idea because to begin with, the salt itself isn't good - too refined and containing chemicals to stop it caking - without even getting into the details of why excess iodine is bad for you. Taking iodine without testing to see if you need it can lead to all sorts of problems. And, if you are deficient, there are protocols to set up before taking it, and these should be under-taken by a trained professional.

It's possible that you feel it helps because in the beginning, iodine will have a stimulating effect on the thyroid to produce more hormone. But, if your thyroid is failing, that will just hasten its demise.

[Positivevibes3 in reply to greygoose]

I don't have thyroid problems. I just thought it would be good to take iodine salt as we don't get enough in our diet. If it's not good, why do they add it to salt?

[greygoose in reply to Positivevibes3]

Why do they make multi-vits when multi-vits are terrible things to take? Answer: because people who don't know what they're doing buy them. Cherchez the filthy lucre!

You may not have thyroid problems at the moment, but you could end up with them getting too much iodine. How do you know you don't get enough in your diet?

[Positivevibes3 in reply to greygoose]

Hi

I only take a small amount.

See article...

Article

[greygoose in reply to Positivevibes3]

Yes, well, studies show that taking T3 'doesn't work', according to some people. And we all know that that isn't true. Just because someone says it, doesn't mean it's true. And, what studies? How were they conducted? On how many people? For how long? And, what even is their definition of 'studies'?

For every article like that, you can find two that say the opposite.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Positivevibes3]

It is essential to view things in context.

The rate at which iodine is added to salt varies around the world. Even at the strictly simplistic "arithmetical chemistry" level, you need to know how much iodine is added to your salt in order to see if 23 grams of salt is a true figure.

You also need to appreciate the rate at which iodine dissipates from salt. In, for example, India and Pakistan, a very considerable amount of the iodine doesn't get to the consumer. Hot sun, damp, rain, wind, all serve to reduce what is left. But the same processes happen everywhere.

For a start, work it out and see how much iodine you would be getting - assuming no losses.

[Positivevibes3 in reply to helvella]

Here's some details....

Salt iodine details

[TLVR]

I avoid all iodine. Carbimazole works by preventing the uptake of iodine by the thyroid, which it needs to make thyroid hormone. So taking extra iodine makes no sense.

[Titaniumfox]

I have Hashi's, and I take potassium iodide (300 mcg) daily. For a long time I avoided it. It's only in the past 2 yrs I started taking it (probably a good idea as my sea food consumption had dropped to nil following the development of histamine intolerance). I also take Selenium (200 mcg) and Molybdenum (about 420 mcg). I can say that for certain I do need to take it. I'm in the fortunate position that by taking these 3 elements, my stomach acid normalises (otherwise it's too low and I get reflux). If I stop any one of these 3, then in a few days the reflux returns. I showed low Iodine in a blood test and also in a hair analysis (Doctor's Data). So I personally feel confident in continuing it. It has not made my antibodies rise (they've halved, but that may have nothing to do with these nutrients).