sea moss

[59Blue]

my 30 year old daughter had been treated for hypothyroidism for the last 8 years and takes 125 mcg Liothyronine. Recently a friend in Hong Kong where she lives as suggested sea moss supplement and she feels she has more energy and less brain fog. I’m concerned about the iodine in it but other components such as magnesium may be helping.

She has a blood test soon and I’ve suggested she tries to get folate, ferritin, B12 and D measured.

Any other thoughts?

[DippyDame]

125mcg is a supraphysiological dose of liothyronine/T3.

This treatment is used as the last resort when other options have failed

Is she buying OTC in HK?

How does she feel?

On such a dose thyroid blood tests are no longer helpful, they are not designed for large doses. FT3 will be high with suppressed FT4 and TSH.

Has she been told or established that she has a form of Thyroid Hormone Resistance (RTH) causing cellular hypothyroidism.. Resistance causes nsufficient serum T3 to be transported into the the nuclei of the cells where it attaches to T3 receptors and becomes active.

Serum T3 is not active.

Unless RTH is established FT3 must remain in or very close to ref range to avoid overmedication

We have to monitor by signs and symptoms....racing heart rate, hand tremors anxiety, sleep problems, bowel problems, heat intolerance and so on.

It is vital that we listen to our bodies!

I have no experience of sea moss but like you I would be very concerned about the iodine content and it's effect on thyroid health.

I'd suggest testing for iodine deficiency should be carried out before supplementing...too much iodine can be harmful as I assume you already know

I agree that vit D, vitB12, folate and ferritin should be tested.

This may help..

thyroiduk.org/11-great-ques...

webmd.com/diet/health-benef...

Hopefully others will pop in who can offer more specific advice.

[59Blue in reply to DippyDame]

Sorry typo - I take Liothyronine but she is on levothyroxine

[DippyDame in reply to 59Blue]

OK....changes things!

[greygoose]

On 125 mcg T3 she is already getting about 61 mcg iodine from that. Doubtful she needs more, and excess iodine can be dangerous, even provoking cancer of the thyroid.

However, when first supplementing iodine, it can stimulate the thyroid to make more hormone, and that could be why she has more energy, etc. But, those effects won't last.

Excess iodine is really not a good idea, and she can get the magnesium etc. from other sources. She doesn't need to take sea moss. But, there is this myth that all you have to do for a thyroid problem is throw iodine at it. And it's just not true.

[DippyDame in reply to greygoose]

Thank you greygoose...I meant to tag you!

Great advice as always.

[59Blue in reply to greygoose]

Interesting fact on initial impact of iodine I didn’t know that but I was concerned about longer term effects

[greygoose in reply to 59Blue]

Well, yes, and so you should be. I was telling you that so that you have an answer if she says something like 'but I feel so much better on it'. We have to be one step ahead.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Did you actually mean she takes 125mcg levothyroxine?

not 125mcg liothyronine

yes get her to do FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

On T3 - day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day with last dose 8-12 hours before test

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...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[DippyDame in reply to SlowDragon]

Did you actually mean she takes 125mcg levothyroxine?

not 125mcg liothyronine

That's what I wondered SlowDragon hence my T3 rant.

[59Blue in reply to DippyDame]

Sorry typo on my part, she takes levothyroxine only

[greygoose in reply to 59Blue]

In that case she's getting about 82 mcg iodine daily from her thyroid hormones. And all that iodine is recycled in her body. And that at a time when she needs less iodine, not more.

[59Blue in reply to SlowDragon]

Unfortunately she’s in Hong Kong but she’s going to see what she can arrange. Otherwise I’ll arrange a Medichecks sample when she’s home for Christmas - I use them twice a year to monitor my vitamin levels