Iodine?

[Booblet]

Hi everyone,I'm taking Thyroid-S x 2 tablets per day. As mentioned a while ago (in a post) there seems to be issues relating to the Ingredients of Thyroid-S.

I'm thinking of trying Iodine. But don't know much about it?

Any views please?

X

[Sunflower64]

Sorry, what is the connection between an ingredient in Thyroid-s and iodine supplements?

It is usually recommended not to take iodine unless you have a diagnosed deficiency and a knowledgeable doctor.

We cannot know for sure what Thyroid-S contains as Thai drug manufacturers are not required to disclose fillers and binders. I know there have been lists of ingredients published on the STTM, but they have never been confirmed by the manufacturer so should not be considered official.

[greygoose]

Why would you try iodine? Are you iodine deficient? I rather doubt it because you'll be getting iodine from your Thyroid S. Iodine is one of the ingredients of thyroid hormone. Every molecule of T4 contains 4 atoms of iodine. And every time thyroid hormone is converted - T4 to T3, T3 to T2, etc. - one atom of iodine is removed and recycled in the body. And that's on top of the iodine oyou get from your food.

If you are hypo, it means that your thyroid cannot function correctly and your thyroid hormones are therefore low. You can only replace a hormone with a hormone, so T4 and/or T3. And giving your thyroid more iodine won't help because your thyroid cannot use it.

What's more, excess iodine can cause a lot of problems.

[Calceolaria in reply to greygoose]

Sorry to jump in - but - can we eat it in food form as in seaweed, fish skin, oysters etc?

[helvella Administrator in reply to Calceolaria]

So far as I am aware, it doesn't much matter how you take it in. It is the quantity that matters.

A large proportion of supplement which supply iodine do so as one or more seaweeds. (That is, the ones that are not some form of Lugol's solution.)

The significant iodine consumption in Japan is very largely seaweed, fish, etc.

And we see issues with erythrosine (a red colour), amiodarone, iodine contrast agents, etc.

Furthermore, even many products that declare an iodine content do so on the basis of looking up typical iodine content in tables. Not measuring the actual product they are dealing with.

[greygoose in reply to Calceolaria]

Agree with helvella - although I don't think I'd risk eating seaweed, but fish and seafood in moderation should be alright. But the OP didn't mention food, she said 'trying iodine', so one assumes she means iodine supplements like Lugol's, which is a very different thing.

There's a huge problem with people thinking that all you have to do with a thyroid problem is throw iodine at it - including a lot of doctors - and you hear vague comments like 'iodine makes the thyroid work better'. Well it doesn't. It's just one of the ingredients of thyroid hormones (I'm going to resist using my cake/oven analogy. lol).

On the other hand, I wouldn't recommend an iodine-free diet, either. Just eat normally.

[helvella Administrator in reply to greygoose]

Just posted this:

Excess Iodine

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[greygoose in reply to helvella]

Well; that should keep some people busy!

[tattybogle]

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... iodine-a-collection-of-useful-information-because-the-search-facility-on-health-unlocked-is-totally-pants

[Rapunzel]

As mentioned a while ago (in a post) there seems to be issues relating to the Ingredients of Thyroid-S.

All very well saying there are 'issues' with Thyroid-S but you'll find that many people use this successfully, including me, when I found the prohibitive cost / efficacy / changing forumlae of other dessicated thyroid extracts (Armour, NP Thyroid) a compelling reason for looking to try something else. Beyond a doubt, Thyroid-S has been a life saver for many.

helvella has a fabulous resource here Thyroid S Batches

A summary of known and suspected potency of Sriprasit Pharma Thyroid S batches.

Regularly updated so please check the blog directly.

And if you have any more information, or corrections, etc., please let me know. I am entirely dependent on your experiences.

Last updated 31/12/2024

Link to blog:

helvella.blogspot.com/p/thy...

which you may find useful.

In your moccassins, which seem similar to mine, I wouldn't touch supplemental iodine with a 100 foot bargepole.

[Sunflower64 in reply to Rapunzel]

Issues with Thyroid-S have been reported here and elsewhere for years now. There are rumours about an unfortunate reformulation (much like Armour) but the dates vary…some say it happened in 2015, some say in 2018, others say the batches as of 2022 are problematic. But one thing is certain: for years, it had consistently good reviews, and then something happened and complaints started rolling in.

It is impossible to know what is true, as rumours tend to live their own life and become true at some point. There are so many blogs, forums and websites that claim that Thyroid-S is now problematic that it is no longer possible to tell fact from fiction. Even in the excellent blog by helvella , reviews are all over the place. This reminds me of what happened to every US brand of NDT, starting with Armour in 2009.

There have been rumours that Sriprasit switched raw material suppliers, from the US to China, and that this negatively affected quality. I don’t see why, as pigs are the same everywhere. Sriprasit has consistently denied any reformulation. Following reports on one forum that Thyroid-S now contained mannitol, the manufacturer stated it did not in its reply to a thyroid blogger.

However, Thyroid-S has become expensive IMO.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Sunflower64]

Of course, I can only add what people tell me! And I don't get many messages about Thyroid S batches.

[Rapunzel in reply to Sunflower64]

However, Thyroid-S has become expensive IMO.

That really begs the question...compared to what?

[Sunflower64 in reply to Rapunzel]

Compared to what it used to cost back in 2014 when I started on it, and also compared to synthetic T3 and F4.

[healthkiwi in reply to Sunflower64]

Yes the price has gone up. And having spent a very difficult couple of years when all the Thai/ Asian thyroid products became totally unavailable, and it was hard to get any consistent supply of anything that was effective, I have been SO GRATEFUL that Sriprasit resumed manufacturing. They have been the only manufacturer that considered it worthwhile to take on the new regulatory and licensing requirements. And the financial interests of "Big Pharma" continues to put pressure on NDT products and supply around the world. All NDT producers are constantly battling forces to shut them down - using the lie that it's for consumer protection. Grrrrrr!

[Sunflower64 in reply to healthkiwi]

So you do not find it less effective now?

[RedShells in reply to Rapunzel]

And Ive been using thyroid s for approximately 7 years and I've had no issues. Let's hope supply continues.

[healthkiwi]

Long answer sorry (TLDR: not significantly, except for price)

I used to regularly alternate between Thyroid-S and Thiroyd in the early years. Was very much trying to figure out what worked for me - I did not know about this forum, or getting blood tests, and had no guidance other than how I felt. I was very much in the dark about what was the best dose for me, and had to self-experiment.

When Thai NDT thyroids disappeared and I was searching online for alternatives, I found this forum, and the incredible advice and quality information. But I couldn't find any alternative to NDT that worked for me and kept me on even keel.

Then Thyroid-S resumed production. The pills may be slightly harder, but I don't know whether that has had any effect on how I absorb and metabolise them. My daily dose might be slightly increased - 2.5grains in summer, 3 grains in winter. But that may have happened over the years anyway? I never kept detailed records of exactly what I took in the past, so all I recall is taking at least 2 or 2.5 grains of either NDT.

Nowaday many medicines have changes in formulation over the years. For me, Thyroid-S is stable and predictable enough so I can manage, and I am reasonably well.

[Dgoebel]

I took iodine, and it helped me tremendously, but you have to take it with selenium, to avoid heart palpitations.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Dgoebel]

Only if you need selenium.

It is easy to take too much selenium and that causes numerous issues.

Ideally, test for selenium before supplementing. And do not take large doses. Typical requirement is suggested to be about 70 or 80 micrograms for an adult. And the amount in our food can vary substantially.

[Sunflower64 in reply to helvella]

One problem is that practically every article on thyroid disease tells you to take selenium to support T4 to T3 conversion…

[helvella Administrator in reply to Sunflower64]

I agree - they do.

Several years ago, everyone, everywhere, was saying to take 400 micrograms of selenium a day.

More recently, everyone, everywhere, was saying to take 200 micrograms of selenium a day.

These days, everyone, everywhere, seems to be saying to take 100 micrograms of selenium a day. (Except those who have not yet caught up!)

But our actual need is the difference between what we get in our diet and something like 70 or 80 micrograms. And it is not as if our diets have absolutely NO selenium content.

And we have had several members shocked that they had very elevated selenium levels when, eventually, they were tested.

I fully accept that there are circumstances in which higher doses are advised. (Mostly to do with Graves and Thyroid Eye Disease.)

But the conversion issue is simply that if you do not have enough selenium, you cannot make sufficient of the seleno-protein enzymes which are specific to thyroid hormones. Basically, if you are selenium deficient, take some. But once you have enough, there is no known advantage in taking more. You do not make more enzymes and reach higher conversion rates by increasing your intake.

[Wheat]

Apologies if caused any confusion, upset. Wanted others to know what is out there. Registered vested interests. Should have written a better explanatory post but too tired. Have removed the post.