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Iodine is often suggested for people who suspect that they might have problems related to a low thyroid levels. As I’ve recently been (finally) diagnosed with an auto-immune thyroid condition, I’ve been researching this subject a lot lately. I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice, I’m just sharing personal information that was helpful to me….
It turns out, there are times when taking iodine can actually do more harm than good…
Is Iodine Good or Bad for Thyroid?
It depends.
As with any medical condition, there are many variations that fall under the broad category of “thyroid problems” and they must be handled differently.
I found this out the hard way. I had the symptoms of low thyroid for years and from research, knew that iodine could be helpful for thyroid troubles. After much research and at the recommendation of a chiropractor, I started taking iodine and noticed that I felt a lot worse. I figured it might be some kind of adjustment reaction and continued taking it but eventually decided to discontinue it since I didn’t feel any better.
History and research verify my own experience in this…
Data from a number of countries shows that countries who started adding iodine to salt to combat hypothyroidism saw rising rates of autoimmune thyroid problems. Chris Kresser explains:
The following is just a sample of studies around the world demonstrating this effect:
Why does this happen? Because increased intake, especially in supplement form, can increase the autoimmune attack on the thyroid. Iodine reduces the activity of an enzyme called thyroid peroxidase (TPO). TPO is required for proper thyroid hormone production.
The Confounding Factor
In my own treatment plan, I now avoid iodine as my particular type of thyroid problem makes it more harmful that helpful. In fact, some research shows that those with auto-immune thyroid disease will see some benefit just from avoiding iodine.
On the other hand, those with iodine-deficiency induced hypothyroidism can benefit from *careful* supplementation, but given the research showing the increased risk of autoimmune thyroid problems that can result, it is very important to check with a doctor first!
Dr. Paul Jaminet also proposes another factor that affects the iodine/autoimmunity relationship is the presence of selenium:
“Excess intake can cause an autoimmune thyroiditis that bears all the characteristics of Hashimoto’s. However, in animal studies this occurs only if selenium is deficient or in excess. Similarly, in animal studies very high intake can exacerbate a pre-existing autoimmune thyroiditis, but only if selenium is deficient or in excess.
With optimal selenium status, thyroid follicles are healthy, goiter is eliminated, and autoimmune markers like Th1/Th2 ratio and CD4+/CD8+ ratio are normalized over a wide range of iodine intake. It seems that optimizing selenium intake provides powerful protection against autoimmune thyroid disease, and provides tolerance of a wide range of intakes.”
The Bottom Line
I’ll be sharing my own thyroid journey as it unfolds and the protocol I’m using to reverse my symptoms. Anyone who suspects hypothyroidism or thyroid disease should be very careful about supplementation and consider selenium with (or in place of) iodine to see if symptoms improve. Dr. Terry Wahls strongly suggests testing your antibodies periodically to know if they are going up or down if you are making a diet or supplement change, and to be sure to work with the doctor prescribing any thyroid medication to monitor this.
Thyroid disorders (and any hormone-related problems) are complex conditions and it is important to find a good doctor or practitioner who can test the proper thyroid levels and do a thyroid ultrasound to know what the proper treatment plan should be.
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Terry Wahls, a clinical professor of medicine and clinical research and has published over 60 peer-reviewed scientific abstracts, posters, and papers. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
Sources and Additional Reading
- Healing Hashimotos by Dr. Alan Christianson
- Hashimotos Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause by Izabella Wentz PharmD
- The Paleo Approach by Dr. Sarah Ballantyne (for diet help)
- Chris Kresser on Iodine and Thyroid Conditions
- Chris Kresser – Three Reasons Your Thyroid Medication Isn’t Working
- Supplemental Selenium alleviates the toxic effects of iodine on the thyroid (study)
- Dr. Paul Jaminet: Iodine and Hashimotos Thyroiditis (Part Two)
Have you ever struggled with thyroid problems or suspect that you might? What has worked for you? Share below!
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Thank you so much for this. I am just beginning my dance with a thyroid diagnosis – and many of my problems began when I began supplementing with additional iodine. Now I have a massive, obstructive, nodular goitre, all the symptoms of hypothyroid (which I’ve had for years and which was dismissed by my doctor several times as all in my head, and fat people can’t keep blaming their weight on their thyroid) and Hashimoto’s, and am halfway through a slew of testing (including an awful double FNA biopsy), which may ultimately lead to thyroidectomy :/ But I needed some more reading, and I also needed to hear I wasn’t alone. Thank you 🙂
I have Low- Thyroid. I tried Iodine as well and it made be feel awful. I started eating 4 Brazil nuts daily for the benefits of the selenium. I as well rub peppermint oil mixed with coconut oil over my thyroid area. My thyroid level went down a point after doing this routine.
Did you continue with the iodine after you started eating the brazil nuts, or did you stop taking iodine and replace it with the nuts?
Thank you for sharing. When I was pregnant with my son, my thyroid was enlarged. He was born with a thyroglosal duct cyst and his thyroid levels were high when he was born. His levels leveled out after a few days, and he had to have the cyst removed at 10 months due to it predictably getting infected. Under ultrasound my thyroid was unusually shaped, but functioning. So, they called it coincidence. It still makes me wonder. My pregnancy was aweful, with migraines and puking. But he is also my child with a severe dairy allergy. Recently I noticed if I have soy, my thyroid swells. Hmmm…. I’ll have to pay attention more.
Wishing I had the benefit of so much information a couple years back. My thyroid had to be removed as it was enlarged to the size of a small orange and was pressing on my carotid artery. Now taking synthetics. Wondering if I could have reduced it by natural means.
Hi again Katie… thought I’d provide more information after reading the post by Dr. Jaminet.
I was listening to an interview last night with Dr. David Brownstein and Dr. Mercola where Dr. Brownstein recommends supplementing with 12-13 mg of iodine per day. He uses Iodorol, which is a supplement that Dr. Tent also recommends. That would be a dose of just one per day, and selenium seems vitally important, but it wasn’t mentioned in that interview.
You can find both these doctors with a quick google search. If you haven’t watched Dr. Tent’s lecture on The Exploding Autoimmune Epidemic, it’s incredibly interesting, but I found it to be pretty disturbing as well and it made me suddenly want to move to Costa Rica, so watch that with caution. 😉
Also, you totally don’t have to publish this comment, since I hesitate to recommend any dosage, I’m just passing what I’ve found along to you.
Anyhow, thanks again for your post!
xo
Lisa
Hi Katie!
I’m also digging into this topic right now. One resource that I found helpful was the work of Dr. David Brownstein. Loved your post, thanks for the resources. I really like the work of Dr Jaminet as well, but haven’t read that post by him.
Thanks for all you do!
Lisa
I don’t have any kind of diagnosis, but supplementing with iodine was very rough for me and I only tried for a few weeks. I have been considering supplementing some of the water I use in my garden this summer, but I’m not really sure if it is a good idea/worth it. I thought maybe it would be a gentler way to add more iodine into the diet? Does anyone have any thoughts?
I am sure I have severe thyroid problems but test as normal and cannot find any help in Perth Australia but I do find that eating prawns really clarifies my thinking the next day. I assume this is because of the Iodine so maybe iodine does help?
I too read the same information in Maureen Pratt’s text (2003). On my health journey I am again reminded of balance and moderation (I am now applying that to my iodine intake). Granted I have not been diagnosed with any particular thyroid condition, only have had guidance through live blood cell analysis. Thank you for your post.
I love your site.. Thanks for all the great homemade recipes you share. I was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism and my doc wanted to put me on meds. I refused and wanted to treat it naturally. The doc agreed and gave me 6 weeks to try my approach. For 6 weeks, I only ate Organic produce (strict Paleo life), didn’t consume any goitrogenic foods, switched to ( you can also use himalayan salt )and took 1 or 2 Brazilian nuts daily, exercised daily drank 6-8 glasses of water and did yoga 2-3 x week. Went back to doc, got bloodwork done and to his surprise my thyroid was working again. After that he checked my thyroid level every 6 months and now he checks it once a year. I wish you all the best. Ps. This worked on my hubby too.
I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s in 1989. Acquired Fibromyalgia in 2006. I am now free of both and all residual health issues. I take Iodoral and found it to be a huge boost to my compounded Armour (w/sustained release agent). I have to say that I also had all mercury amalgam dental fillings removed and went on a gluten free (no wheat, no corn, and other grains rarely). I also drink an alkaline water and add himalayan crystal salt to it. This is not a processed water (through a machine). There’s also an inexpensive Iodine urine test available through https://www.zrtlab.com/ PERSONALLY I think Iodoral has been a significant contributor to my recovery but do encourage self-exploration. Happy to see so many people taking responsibility and searching. Yay!!!
Thanks for this. I have hypothyroidism due to chemo and radiation treatments on my neck/chest. I never could figure out if iodine was good or bad for me. There’s information that says “cures all ills!” and information that says it’s bad, this gives both sides.
I haven’t used iodized salt in years, I just prefer natural gray sea salt. I’ll have to look into selenium.