Re: patty: thyroid questions

[Guest guest]

>I really can comment about your TSH, but last year I was told by a naturopath

to do the quick patch test.

You take iodine tincture, rub a 2 in. square onto your forearm, and if that

disappears before 24 hours than you are deficient in the mineral.

Mine disappeared completely within 12 hrs and was then told I could support the

thyroid naturally with liquid kelp drops which I did for a year. I started at

12 - 15 drops and got up to 20.

Sorry can't add much else, but that is my small experience with natural thyroid

support which seems a logical thing to do if you are borderline.

> Does anyone see any harm in adding iodine supplements to the diet if you are

borderline hypothyroid? These are the supplements I am thinking about,

http://www.progest50.com/iodineplus2.htm

>

> My TSH levels keep fluctuating, lately 2.8, 2.2 etc, this is not normal for me

since before thyroid surgery they were at .7

>

> Thanks!

> Beth

>

[Guest guest]

Beth,It can be complicated....as sometimes iodine can be helpful and other times it can be hurtful. It depends on whether your thyroid problem is due to autoimmunity or not. Here is an article that might help shed some light on it. I have taken Lugol's solution myself (a few drops in water) and also swabbed my vagina with a QTip dipped in iodine ( I know it sounds strange! But if you read Suzanne Somer's books, this is recommended by a doctor for breast health. I'll see if I can post this information when I return.)http://thyroid.about.com/cs/vitaminsupplement/a/iodine.htmIodine is an essential element that enables the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones.

Three iodine molecules are added to make T3 (triiodothyronine), and

four for T4 (thyroxine) -- the two key hormones produced by the thyroid

gland -- so iodine is essential to the production of these two hormones

of the master gland of metabolism.

One needs the proper amount of iodine for optimal thyroid function.

A severe iodine deficiency can cause hypothyroidism, and even

developmental brain disorders and severe goiter. Less severe iodine

deficiency is linked to hypothyroidism, thyroid enlargement (goiter)

and hyperthyroidism. At the other end of the spectrum, excessive iodine

intake -- both severe and moderate -- is also associated with

hypothyroidism and goiter.

Iodine Deficiency

There are many areas around the world where soils are deficient in

iodine, and iodine must be added to the diet -- usually through iodized

salt. In the U.S., for example, the area around the Great Lakes used to

be known as the goiter belt because the soil is particular

iodine-deficient, and this resulted in higher incidence of goiter among

residents of the area. Earlier in the 20th century, however, iodized

salt almost wiped out iodine deficiency in the U.S. entirely.

Other countries have not had such concerted iodization programs. In

1999, global health experts announced that iodine deficiency continues

to be a serious threat to global health. Insufficient iodine is, in

fact, considered is the most common -- yet also most preventable --

cause of brain damage throughout the world, with 1.6 billion people at

risk.

Children with iodine deficiency and its resulting hypothyroidism can

suffer from stunted growth, with mental retardation and problems in

movement, speech or hearing. Worldwide, iodine deficiency actually

affects some 50 million children. When a woman with iodine deficiency

becomes pregnant, she risks miscarriage, stillbirth and mental

retardation in her baby. Even what's considered a mild iodine

deficiency can hamper the growth of children's brains, reduce their IQ,

and cause learning disabilities. The World Health Organization

estimates that some 1 billion people around the world are at risk of

health problems due to iodine deficiency. In Latin America and the

Caribbean, for example, as many as 25 percent of the population -- a

total of almost 200 million people -- are at greater risk of goiter, at

minimum.

While iodine deficiency was not common in the U.S., it is again on the

rise here as well. The first National Health and Nutrition Examination

Survey (NHANES I), which took place between 1971 - 1974, found that

just 2.6% of US citizens had iodine deficiency. The followup NHANES III

survey, conducted between 1988 - 1994, found that 11.7% are iodine

deficient. The October, 1998 issue of the Journal of Clinical

Endocrinology and Metabolism reported that over the previous 20 years,

the percentage of Americans with low intake of iodine has more than

quadrupled. Of particular concern is the fact that the percentage of

iodine-deficient pregnant women has increased from 1% in 1974 to 7% in

1994. Maternal iodine deficiency is particularly dangerous to a

developing fetus. The researchers do not have a cause for the drop in

levels, though it is suspected that reduced salt in the diet, plus a

reduction in the use of iodine as a food ingredient, may be

responsible. This trend, however, may necessitate concerted efforts to

increase iodine levels in people at risk of deficiency even in the U.S.

What About Iodine Supplementation?

The relationship between iodine and the thyroid is complicated. Some

alternative practitioners simplistically declare that all thyroid

patients should take iodine -- or an iodine-containing herb like kelp.

That practice can be problematic for many people, because many cases of

autoimmune thyroid disease -- which is by far the most common cause of

thyroid conditions in the U.S. -- are not due to iodine deficiency. The

likelihood that your thyroid problem is caused by iodine deficiency is

a factor of your geographic location, diet, and use of salt and iodized

products, but the odds are, you are not iodine deficient.

Your physician or nutritionist can test your iodine levels via a

urinalysis test, if you wish to be evaluated. If, like many patients,

you decide on your own to try kelp, iodine, or one of the many

thyroid-supporting supplements (almost all of them contain high amounts

of iodine or kelp), to see if they can help you, be aware of the risks.

A percentage of patients are very sensitive to iodine/kelp

supplementation, and find that it aggravates their thyroid problem.

Personally, I'm one of those people who simply does not do well with

much in the way of supplemental iodine. I do fine with food that

contain iodine -- such as seaweed or seafood. In fact, I periodically

find myself craving sushi and a good seaweed salad, and can eat it with

no after-effects whatsoever. But the several times I have tried iodine

or kelp supplementation in any form -- beyond the very small amounts of

iodine contained in some supplements -- I have had what I call an

"iodine crash."

Within a day, I noticed my thyroid enlarging slightly (goiter), and

feeling tender. Within three days, I became exhausted and achy all over

my body. Most of the thyroid support supplements have high amounts of

iodine, or kelp, claiming that these are essential nutrients for the

thyroid. Be careful -- they may be a help to you, but like me, you may

also be sensitive to supplemental iodine in pill form, and find

yourself having an iodine crash.

Some people are so sensitive to iodine that they really shouldn't even

take the small amount of iodine you would find in most multivitamins.

For that group, there are several supplements that contain no iodine

(they also happen to contain no iron as well, which means they can

safely be taken at the same time as your thyroid medications.) (Note:

if you are taking iron supplements, you need to take them at least 3 to

4 hours apart from your thyroid medication.)

Note: If you would like more information on multivitamins without iodine, click here.

Source: Laurberg P, et. al. "Environmental iodine intake affects the

type of nonmalignant thyroid disease," Thyroid. 2001 May;11(5):457-69>> Does anyone see any harm in adding iodine supplements to the diet if you are borderline hypothyroid? These are the supplements I am thinking about, http://www.progest50.com/iodineplus2.htm > > My TSH levels keep fluctuating, lately 2.8, 2.2 etc, this is not normal for me since before thyroid surgery they were at .7 > > Thanks!> Beth>

[Guest guest]

> >

> > Does anyone see any harm in adding iodine supplements to the diet if

> you are borderline hypothyroid? These are the supplements I am thinking

> about, http://www.progest50.com/iodineplus2.htm

> >

> > My TSH levels keep fluctuating, lately 2.8, 2.2 etc, this is not

> normal for me since before thyroid surgery they were at .7

> >

> > Thanks!

> > Beth

> >

>