Iodine for hypothyroidism: friend or foe?

Iodine for hypothyroidism was controversial, with experts at both ends of the spectrum, arguing for and against using it. But if you have hypothyroidism, or know someone who does, it is important to understand that iodine, is often not the preferred form of treatment and in many cases, it may aggravate your condition.

Before we delve into why this is, you probably thought all the good things you've heard of iodine, so let us explain ...

Your thyroid gland needs iodine functions

Your body does not make iodine alone, this means you must get it through your food. If you don't get enough, you will be unable to make enough thyroid hormones.

Your thyroid gland is dependent on iodine to produce two hormone, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). The figures in these hormones names are actually the token are how many atoms of iodine, T4 containing 4 atom molecules, and then release single before conversion to T3 hormone to the active form.

It is expected that 2 billion people worldwide, including 266 million school-age--iodine intake, [1] and the resulting iodine deficiency is, in fact, the most common cause of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) worldwide.

If you have iodine diet rich in iodine products then eat algae and even add iodine to help quickly resolve this problem ... but it is important to understand that in the United States not Yoda is a major cause of hypothyroidism, and in many cases, treatment condition with iodine deficiency is the catastrophe of serious health problems.

Iodine is not a major cause of hypothyroidism United States

Levels of iodine in food will vary greatly depending on soil and sea water concentration of iodine. Because of this it can be hard to get enough iodine from diet alone, especially if you live in an area with soil iodine. To fix this, the United States adds iodine most table salt, which means you not only get additional iodine when you salt your food, but also when you eat processed foods, which are usually strongly salted iodized salt.

A lot of animal feed in the United States also are supplemented with iodine in milk products also good food sources of that nutrient.

However, there are signs that the combustion of iodine in the United States is declining, possibly by increasing the number of people, reducing the consumption of salt, but the data from the latest available, studies of national health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004 showed that most Americans still get enough.[2]

Both in the United States, iodine is not considered a major cause of hypothyroidism, except in specific high-risk groups, such as those not iodized salt, (including food), fish or seaweed or pregnant women.

Nevertheless, cases of hypothyroidism are widespread in the United States, affecting nearly 4 per cent of the population, [3] including 13 million that have not been diagnosed and are unaware they have the condition. [4]

If Yoda is not an issue, what?

The most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States

Hypothyroidism in the United States, most often the result of autoimmune disease called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis or autoimmune disease that causes your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroy the thyroid gland.

The disease usually begins with your thyroid gland inflammation (chronic tireoidit) that over time lets your thyroid the ability to produce sufficient hormones and eventually leads to underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism.

The exact cause is unknown, but autoimmune is rather the result of several factors, including:

Virus or bacteria, which launches responseGenetics/family historyGender (women are more likely to be autoimmune) other environmental factors

However, this is an important moment that excessive iodine can also worsen.

Increase of iodine may cause hypothyroidism

Not that the iodine critical nutrient for your body ... but for hypothyroidism, bigger is not always better.

Studies show that give people who have had adequate or excessive iodine intake of iodine can really cause hypothyroidism, thyroiditis.

Studies also show that iodine is actually increases activity of an enzyme peroxidase (TPO) thyroid and increase in antibodies to this enzyme, common in autoimmune patients. This interaction between enzyme and TPO antibodies leads to inflammation and destruction of the thyroid gland. In other words too much iodine can actually make autoimmune worse.

Remember, since the majority of cases the United States autoimmune hypothyroidism disease Yoda, this study can be applied to you ...

Be very careful if your a practicing health care automatically recommends iodine deficiency hypothyroidism

Many practitioners of health care in the United States do not understand the complexity of thyroid function and regularly recommend iodine supplements for people with hypothyroidism. This approach will unfortunately be detrimental to some.

If you don't really have enough iodine, food additives or enhancements then is necessary. But if not, additional iodine rather just cause or worsen your troubles of the thyroid gland.

So if your medical practitioner recommends iodine supplements without any real evidence that you are bad, it's a red flag to note. A second opinion from a practitioner who understands the complex role of iodine in hypothyroidism--and we can discuss with you the benefits vs risks--probably justified.

Links

1. food and Nutrition Bulletin 2008 Sep; 29 (3): 195-202.
2. the thyroid gland. Nov 2008; 18 (11): 1207-14.
3. the thyroid gland. Dec 2007; 17 (12): 1211-23.
4. Archives of internal medicine 2000; 160: 526-534.

Responsibility centre Endocrinology Colorado gives hope to patients with type II diabetes and hypothyroidism by providing alternative ways for care. Founded by Dr. Brandon Credeur, DC and Dr Heather Credeur, district of Colombia, the Centre is located at 4155 E Jewell Ave, Ste 1007, Denver, CO 80222, 303-302-0933, http://www.drcredeur.com/.

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