Taking Supplements

[MCMC]

Hi All,

I've been taking a supplement that contains vitamins & iron, as well as iodine. I've recently seen a a doctor from America, saying you shouldn't take this, as it makes your thyroid condition worse. Does anyone know if this is true and if there are any other things I should avoid with hypothyroidism?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

There are untold issues surrounding iodine. Actually, they are told - search in the search box at top right!

Iodine can indeed suppress thyroid hormone manufacture. At the same time, lack of iodine can prevent the possibility of making enough iodine.

And do not forget that over 60% of the thyroid hormone you take is iodine. That is, if you are on, say, 150 mcg of thyroxine, you are consuming 100 mcg or so of iodine - or you could look at it that your body's requirement for iodine (i.e. the thyroid's requirement) been reduced substantially.

Not an easy area. Lots of rubbish as well as lots of properly thought through but still conflicting ideas.

Usually you should also avoid goitrogens - a list of foods which affect thyroid processes.

And you must take any iron at least four hours away from thyroid hormone. Otherwise they react together and reduce absorption.

[nostoneunturned]

You might like to read about Iodine and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis on this link:

suite101.com/article/iodine...

explains that thyroxine is made by the thyroid from a synthesis of iodine and tyrosine, but that when taking levothyroxine "you are absorbing the hormone (the already synthesised tyrosine and iodine combination). You are not taking iodine." Seems to me that if you are taking levothyroxine then you are actually taking iodine in, basically, as Rod indicates.

And this one:

livestrong.com/article/5320...

in which it is clearly stated that any extra iodine will not be incorporated into thyroid hormones because the thyroid's function is being replaced by levothyroxine.

Most advice is that if the thyroid needs help to function that taking iodine is not a good idea.