iodine to take it or not?

[Needlehaystax]

could someone clear up the iodine issue with me? I was under the impression that it was bad to take iodine. Due to trying for a baby I have resorted to a private nhs gp who specialises in hormone health. She put me on a methylated pregnancy multivit containing iodine as well as referring me to a functional practitioner and herbalist who put me on an elimination diet. I can’t help wondering if the iodine supplementation is ok?

The bio are methylated pregnancy but contains: 220micrograms

I have a protein powder that I take maybe every other day with : 150micrograms

could anyone in the know or someone who knows about nutrition/medicine tell me if this is doing me more harm than good?

I have been feeling quite lethargic of late even though I’ve just finished an elimination diet where I felt amazing and have only reintroduced one thing which I was fine on. Have t introduced anything else yet. I’ve just stopped the pregnancy vit and feel better already today alone so was wondering if it’s the iodine?

My most recent bloods were in May 24:

tsh: 0.53 Normal range: 0.35 - 4.94 mIU/L

T3: 3.7 Normal range: 2.4 - 6.0 pmol/L

T4: 13.9 Normal range: 9.0 - 19.1 pmol/L

[SlowDragon Administrator]

was test done early morning, ideally before 9am, only drinking water between waking and test and last dose Levo 24 hours before test

How much levothyroxine are you taking

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Were you taking multivitamins at least 4 hours away from Levo

Free T4 (fT4) 13.9 pmol/L (9 - 19.1) 

Ft4 only 48.5% through range

Free T3 (fT3) 3.7 pmol/L (2.4 - 6) 

Ft3 worse at only 36.1% through range

These results show you need next dose increase

Significantly different from previous test in March

27th March:

T4: 21.1 (11.0 - 21.2) pmol/L

TSH: 0.77 (0.27 - 4.20) mlU/L

T3: 4.4 (3.1 - 6.8) pmol/L

1st March:

Serum iron 13.7 (umol/L 9.0 to 30.4)

Transferrin level : 2.65 (1.80 to 3.82) g/L

transferrin saturation 20% (20-45)

Vitamin D: 75 nmol/L (50.01 to 999999)

Folate: 8.1 ug/L (3.1 to 20.5)

Se thyroid peroxidase: 226 IU/ml (0 to 33.9)

Your iron was (is?) very poor

No ferritin or B12 results

[Alanna012]

There isn't any consensus on this.

Some feel aggressive hypo symptoms when taking any further supplemental iodine or even after consuming seaweed with lunch

Others feel better when taking some daily supplemental iodine

Still others feel better on a low iodine diet, cutting out iodine as much as they can

And then others swear by a high iodine protocol where you supplement with high amounts of iodine.

All the private practitioners I have seen have recommended iodine. Others online say don't take it.

I can now tolerate it

[Hedgeree]

Hi Needlehaystax,

When the topic of iodine is mentioned on the forum it often generates many interesting responses.

I did a quick search and have linked to two posts but there are many others.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

There is a pinned post by tattybogle that you can have a look at. Sorry not sure how to link to it but it includes lots of useful posts.

[Rapunzel in reply to Hedgeree]

Here it is Needle

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Hail tattybogle

[Hedgeree in reply to Rapunzel]

Thank you Rapunzel!

[calej]

I have the same exact question. I feel great but my labs are not perfect (normal T3 and T4, low TSH 0.06 and high TRAb 7.3 .... I just want to fix my labs for my family not to worry about me. Since I have avoided iodized salt for many years now, I thought that maybe I was deficient? I put some on my meal and felt somewhat better but I'm not sure...