Iodine

[Purplebum]

Can anyone help me with the iodine question? I've read when hypothyroid you should not supplement iodine and not to eat copious amounts of foods with iodine. I also thought I had heard that a small amount of iodine is in levothyroxine? I'm getting a little confused with what's right or incorrect.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

This post by    tattybogle is useful

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

I personally wouldn’t supplement iodine with hypothyroidism or eat copious amount of foods high in iodine.

You are correct that Levo does contain some iodine- I will leave it to others (more knowledgeable than I in this area) to discuss actual amounts

[Purplebum in reply to Buddy195]

Thank you for your reply

[greygoose]

Well, I'm not sure levo contains sufficient for your daily needs. But then I don't think it has ever been established just how much iodine a person on thyroid hormone replacement actually needs. Less than a person with a healthy thyroid, obviously.

Iodine is just one of the ingredients of thyroid hormone. One molecule of T4 contains 4 atoms of iodine - and T3 has 3 atoms - hence the names. So, as you can guess, conversion is the removal of one atom. And the iodine that is removed during conversion is recycled in the body. So, you don't need very much.

It's excess iodine that causes problems. So a few mussels and welks on a Saturday night aren't going to do you much harm. But iodised salt should not be used, and iodine supplements are not only useless but can be dangerous.

[Purplebum in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for your reply

[greygoose in reply to Purplebum]

You're welcome.