About Iodine & Thyroid Function

Iodine is a necessary nutrient a thyroid requires in order to manufacture T3 and T4, two important hormones made by your thyroid. Too little iodine can cause hypothyroidism, goiter and more.

How Iodine Is Used By The Thyroid

• Tyrosine, an amino acid, combines with iodine a person ingests (through food or supplements) to convert into T3 and T4. T3 requires three iodine molecules and T4 requires four iodine molecules for proper thyroid function.

Iodine Deficiency

• Symptoms of iodine deficiency can include goiter, hypothyroidism, autoimmune disorders and pregnancy-related problems. For example, in the event of insufficient iodine levels, the thyroid may enlarge in an attempt to increase T3 and T4 production.

  It is believed that 25 percent of the population around the world is iodine deficient. In Australia, for example, the government added iodine to bread to help alleviate iodine deficiency in their country.

  There is debate among the medical community on whether additional iodine supplementation, in addition to a regular diet, is necessary. There is also a debate on whether it helps or causes more problems in the thyroid. Many alternative practitioners believe it is a necessary addition if diagnosed with thyroid disease. Among the mainstream medical community, opinions differ.

Causes Of Iodine Deficiency

• According to an article on Science Daily, iodized salt may not contain enough iodine as recommended by the FDA. There is debate on whether iodized salt should be ingested due to the level of processing during manufacturing. Sea salt is not as heavily processed as iodized table salt and includes more trace minerals, so many prefer sea salt over iodized table salt.

  Fluoride, bromine/bromide, and chlorine in the body displace iodine in cells, leading to iodine deficiency.

  Soil depletion is another cause.

Iodine Deficiency Testing

• Testing for iodine levels is done by urinalysis. According to the American Thyroid Association, less than 50 ug/L constitutes an iodine deficiency.

  There is also an iodine "patch" self-test with Tincture of Iodine.

Where to Find Iodine

• According to the American Thyroid Association, your body does not make iodine. Therefore, it is a necessary addition to a diet.

  According to an article on Science Daily, iodized salt may not contain enough iodine as recommended by the FDA. 53 percent of samples they tested did not contain recommended levels. Sea salt is not as heavily processed as iodized table salt and includes more trace minerals so is preferable over iodized table salt.

  Iodine can be found in such foods as kelp, seaweed, eggs and dairy products. There are also iodine supplements available.

Considerations

• As more iodine in ingested, fluoride, bromine and chlorine will be pushed out of cells which may result in detoxification effects.

  It is not a question of whether iodine is required for proper thyroid function. It is a vital necessity. The question is how much is required and in what way it should be taken. Too much iodine is also harmful.