Thyroid Nodules and Low Ferritin Connection

[Liba1234]

Has anyone successfully eliminated thyroid nodules by elevating ferritin levels? I believe there is a significant connection between the two (found some studies also). I do not have any health issues (except low ferritin and thyroid nodules) but I am curious about how many of you have observed this relationship. If you haven't noticed, did you happen to have low ferritin levels at the time when nodules were discovered?

[greygoose]

It's very common for hypos to have low ferritin and nodules, but I've never heard of any connection. Perhaps you could link us to the studies you've been reading - I'm sure that would interest a lot of people.

[Liba1234 in reply to greygoose]

"Low levels of ferritin, which is an indicator of iron storage in the body, can have an impact on thyroid synthesis. In addition to affecting thyroid hormone production, low levels of ferritin can also impact the conversion of the inactive thyroid hormone T4 to the active thyroid hormone T3." and "Thyroid metabolism is orchestrated by the action of various minerals and trace elements including iron, iodine, selenium, and zinc. Iron deficiency, specifically deficiency in serum ferritin levels, is one of the common causes of thyroid dysfunction." read here source: scirp.org/journal/paperinfo... . I have a feeling that these two are connected. I'm curious to understand which one affects the other. Here’s what I’ve observed so far with my increased ferritin levels: my leg weakness has stopped (I couldn't climb stairs), heart palpitations have ceased, and breast pain before menstruation has disappeared (and several other smaller issues improved dramatically, such as the dry, "fish scales" skin on my legs.). Interestingly, research suggests that iron deficiency can cause breast pain due to its role in regulating thyroid hormones. (Google it and see studies) I also want to mention IODINE. I took a large dose of iodine a few months ago, and by the next morning, my three years of fatigue had vanished. It felt almost miraculous, but it's true. As you know, doctors advise against taking iodine if you have thyroid nodules, while some homeopaths suggest taking it but recommend checking if the nodules are hot or cold. However, I refuse to undergo the radiation test, as it might exacerbate the nodules. My body seems to be signaling a strong need for both iodine and iron. My plan is to first address my ferritin levels, and if there are no significant changes in my nodules, I will consider increasing my iodine intake. Currently, I only consume seaweed occasionally, but it seems to be enough as I don't feel any fatigue. These are a mix of my thoughts, and while not entirely concrete, I would greatly appreciate any additional insights or your thoughts.

[greygoose in reply to Liba1234]

Well, neither of those extracts you give mention nodules. It's well known that we need good ferritin levels for thyroid hormone production and conversion, but neither of those has anything to do with nodules. It's not just hypos that get nodules, some perfectly healthy people have them.

Iodine is another matter entirely. I have never heard of doctors advising againts taking it if you have thyroid nodules, but many, many people advise against it if you're hypo! We always advise against it on here, and speaking from experience, taking iodine was the worst thing I ever did.

Of course your fatigue disappeared when you took it. In the short-term it acts as a stimulant and forces your thyroid to make more hormone. But, stimulating a sick gland just hastens its demise. And long-term, iodine is anti-thyroid. It used to be used to treat hyperthyroidism before anti-thyroid drugs were invented.

It can also cause other complications, such as thyroid cancer. You would be well advised to get a reputable iodine test done before continuing to take it.

You don't give us any information about yourself on your profile. Do you have some sort of thyroid diagnosis? Are you taking anything for it? If you are taking thyroid hormone replacement - e.g. levo, etc. - you will be getting plenty of iodine from that. It's very easy to over-dose if you also take supplements.

Iodine is not some sort of magic elixir that fixes sick thyroids, it is just one ingredient of thyroid hormone. And, as I always say, doesn't matter how many eggs you put in the batter, if your oven's on the blink, you ain't going to get a cake out of it!

[Liba1234 in reply to greygoose]

I've come across so many studies that link low ferritin to thyroid abnormalities, and I think it's definitely worth trying to address. The only real cost is the ultrasounds and blood tests every couple of months. My main goal is to stop my thyroid nodules from growing or, ideally, shrink them naturally. I've got three nodules, with the largest one being 1 cm.

I'm pretty sure my little bit enlarged goiter and nodules happened because I wasn't getting enough iodine also. It's a fact backed by doctors, studies, and even a quick Google search. The tricky part is figuring out the right way to take iodine. Maybe it needs to be in a specific form like iodine plus iodide, or maybe I need a different amount. But first, I'm starting with increasing my ferritin levels before addressing iodine.

I think it's worth starting to research and test these approaches now, rather than just waiting around for drugs or surgery. As I mentioned before, I'm 41 years old and completely healthy - no allergies or anything - just these nodules and low ferritin. I'm hoping to get my thyroid health back.

[greygoose in reply to Liba1234]

having three nodules does not mean that there's anything wrong with your thyroid health. Lots of people with no thyroid problems have nodules. What would tell you if there's a problem with your thyroid is a full thyroid blood panel. Have you had one of those?

The majority of nodules don't grow. They don't do anything, good or bad. And I'm pretty sure that they are not caused by low iodine. A goitre could be due to low iodine, but that's another matter entirely, and could be due to other things.

Iodine is not something to self-treat with. There are protocols to set up and it all needs to be supervised by an experienced practitioner.

If you are perfectly healthy, then the best thing to do would be to leave well alone, or you could end up very unhealthy. Raising your ferritin would be good, but get a full iron panel first. But forget the iodine. That is just not something to dabble with.

[Liba1234 in reply to greygoose]

My thyroid tests look perfect according to my doctor, but my nodules have gotten bigger. If they keep growing, the doctor wants to do a biopsy. No thank you. I won't blindly trust the doctors again, just like with the ferritin issue and my slightly enlarged goiter, which could have been fixed earlier (for example goiter with iodine).

In today's world, you really have to take your health into your own hands and research everything you can. How can I trust doctors and pharmacies 100% when they didn't even try to find the root cause of my fatigue, leg weakness, breathlessness, palpitations, and enlarged goiter? It feels like they just wait for the disease to fully develop and then treat the symptoms instead of addressing the main cause like low ferritin or iodine. For example, instead of figuring out my ferritin or iodine deficiency, they'd just prescribe medication for heart palpitations. No, I won't go down that path again. I'm not going to wait until a real disease develops just to have them treat the symptoms.

[greygoose in reply to Liba1234]

OK, your choice. But I firmly believe you are barking up the wrong tree - especially with iodine. Just be careful, that's all, because you could make things so much worse.

[Liba1234 in reply to greygoose]

Therefore, I'll be doing tests frequently and keeping everyone updated on my progress.

[greygoose in reply to Liba1234]

Just one point: if you were iodine deficient, your blood test results would not look perfect.

[Liba1234 in reply to greygoose]

My were always perfect! I don't trust these tests at all:

Thyroid tests can sometimes show normal results even when there is an enlarged goiter due to several reasons:

Compensatory Mechanism: The thyroid gland can sometimes compensate for its dysfunction by producing hormones at a normal level, despite the presence of a goiter. This can result in normal levels of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in blood tests.

Subclinical Conditions: A person might have subclinical hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. In these cases, the levels of thyroid hormones might still be within the normal range, but there are underlying issues that could cause the thyroid gland to enlarge.

Iodine Deficiency: Iodine deficiency can lead to goiter formation without significantly altering the thyroid hormone levels, especially in the early stages. The thyroid enlarges in an effort to trap more iodine and produce adequate hormones.

Nodules and Benign Growths: The presence of thyroid nodules or benign growths can cause the thyroid to enlarge without affecting its function. These nodules can sometimes be hormonally inactive, meaning they do not produce thyroid hormones.

Autoimmune Thyroiditis: Conditions like Hashimoto's thyroiditis can lead to goiter formation. In the early stages of Hashimoto's, thyroid hormone levels can remain normal or fluctuate before eventually leading to hypothyroidism.

Measurement Variability: There can be variability in laboratory measurements. Normal ranges for thyroid function tests can vary slightly between different laboratories and populations.

Localized Thyroid Disease: Sometimes, thyroid disease can affect only part of the thyroid gland, leaving the rest of the gland functioning normally. This can result in overall normal thyroid hormone levels in blood tests despite the presence of a goiter.

[greygoose in reply to Liba1234]

Yup. So what's new. Nothing I haven't heard before, there. But I wasn't talking about goitres. I was talking about blood test results. Never mind. Good luck for the future.

[Beefull8]

Wow that’s fascinating! I have hyperthyroidism with nodules and low ferritin. I didn’t know there was a link.

[greygoose in reply to Beefull8]

There probably isn't a link. At least, the OP has failed to provide it.

[humanbean]

Low iron levels are rare. A blood test cannot determine the amount of iron, as it is mainly stored in the tissues.

By that logic nobody would ever be able to tell when they were not absorbing minerals very well because the only method of determining levels that is easily available to most of us is a blood test.

I'll stick to using blood tests rather than just keeping my fingers crossed.

[Liba1234 in reply to humanbean]

Many people have trusted their doctors who said that low ferritin levels are fine. However, there are countless stories of significant overnight improvements after receiving iron infusions or raising ferritin levels to at least 60. My ferritin was at 11 in a blood test, and it was difficult for me to breathe, yet doctors told me my blood test results were wonderful. Now, with my ferritin increased to 35, I feel like a new person. I can't wait to see how much better I will feel when it reaches 60 or even 100. I hope to feel like my old self again.

[greygoose in reply to Liba1234]

Yes, all of that is true. But on here, we know that doctors know nothing about nutrition and are useless at interpreting blood test results. You're preaching to the choir, baby!

Of course you feel better with higher levels of ferritin, but that doesn't mean that the low ferritin caused your nodules, nor that raising it will make them go away, which is what you started out by saying. You seem to have changed the topic of conversation and that's confusing to say the least!