When Iodine Might Be Bad For Your Thyroid

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Iodine for Thyroid Problems-helpful or harmful
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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.

Have you ever struggled with thyroid problems or suspect that you might? What has worked for you? Share below!

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

146 responses to “When Iodine Might Be Bad For Your Thyroid”

  1. LCrownov Avatar
    LCrownov

    Have you read any of Dr. Brownstein’s books on iodine? How about Dr. Abraham and Dr. Jorge Flechas? They have informative videos on you tube also. It might be a good idea to take a look at what they have found in their years of research before you discount the benefits of iodine supplementation. Take care!

  2. Stephanie Avatar
    Stephanie

    Hi Katie!

    First I want to tell you I LOVE your blog. I’ve recently just come across it, but now i’m hooked 🙂 I love all of your natural health & beauty recipes. Thank you for sharing.
    I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I was just 2 days old, I am now 24 and I have struggled with the up & down symptoms all my life. It wasn’t until a year ago that I stumbled upon the Paleo diet which has changed my life. Since cutting out gluten, dairy, processed sugar, soy & eating a clean diet I have reached a healthy weight and have been able to decrease my dose of synthroid. What I find baffling is not once in my 24 years of seeing endocrinologists did any of them mention anything about certain foods negatively impacting thyroid symptoms. Thanks to my husband, who has been doing a lot of research with me we’ve found so much information on things that will benefit me.
    My next goal is to try armour thyroid, made from natural pig thyroid. I’ve been told that it’s nearly impossible to get a traditional doctor to prescribe :/ I have also just within the last week starting supplementing my daily diet with Selenium. I will be following your journey, I am glad To have a resource like yours. I wish you luck!

  3. Theresa Avatar
    Theresa

    Hello,
    I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 10 years ago. My TSH result was a little over 20, and the nurse who called me told me my thyroid failed and I’d be on thyroid medication the rest of my life. My former MD never tested my thyroid antibodies so I never knew I had Hashimoto’s Disease.
    I met a wonderful holistic doctor 6 years ago. He tested both of my thyroid antibodies, and they totaled over 14,000. My immune system was very aggressive. My holistic doctor suggested that I get a thyroid ultrasound which I never had done before. I haven’t had a nodule that could be felt, but my whole thyroid gland is covered with microscopic nodules.
    My former endocrinologist back in 2011 wouldn’t even order my thyroid antibodies tests for me. She said that once you have antibodies you always will. She had told me that she had never weaned anybody off of medication (How sad is that?). I told her that a pill will not cure you and I know the cause of my Hashimoto’s (mainly gluten) so I needed to keep track to see if they would come down more. Well I only saw her twice.
    My great holistic doctor helped me tremendously with all my health conditions. His protocols worked for me (no gluten and dairy, take certain supplements which included selenium, detox, healing my small intestine, etc…) I am still stunned at how my health has turned around. I also now currently have a great MD who has a holistic approach to treatment. He orders my thyroid antibody tests! As of April 2013, my thyroid antibodies totaled 3600. My goal is to recover from Hashimoto’s. I am currently studying holistic nutrition so I can help others in the future. My advice to people is to see a doctor who practices holistic treatments so you will find the causes of your symptoms/diseases. Then you will be on your way to recovery.

  4. Amanda Tarvin Avatar
    Amanda Tarvin

    Hi there, do you know anything about hyperthyroidism? There is not much info online about it since most people have hypo… Every time I google it, all I get is info on hypo… I know I need to balance my hormones somehow but can’t figure out the right protocol… A few major symptoms I have are, acne since age 12 now 29… Can’t gain weight, heart palpitations etc… My dad had this condition…made him really sick… His thyroid was killed when drs have him radioactive iodine… He has struggled with hypo since then.

  5. Katarina Avatar

    Dear Katie,
    Have you had your adrenals tested? There is a saliva test that is very useful, it tests your cortisol and DHEA levels (morning, lunch time, efternoon and evening)
    I found it extremely helpful.
    Kind regards,
    Katarina

  6. Lori Larsen Avatar
    Lori Larsen

    I was initially told at 17 that one day I’d have a thyroid problem (childhood family doctor told me this). I was not able to get an official diagnosis for nearly 15 more years and it (tests from an endocrinologist) said I did have hypothyroid disease. However, medication available then did not help me. Another 15 years, and a few doctors later, it was via first a thyroid online group to learn more and then begin to get properly treated in 2006. An eye doctor told me she is certain that I have the Hashimoto’s version of the disease, thus my autoimmune system is really shot. I am interested in anything about the disease and I thank you for another helpful piece of information.

  7. Christina Avatar

    I’ve seen you reference the autoimmune paleo diet which I have recently come across. Does this mean you avoid night shades, raw milk, grass fed butter? I’m trying to go paleo but get confused which one is better when I could go “real food” or do I need to never have dairy or things that autoimmune paleo take out?

    1. Katie - Wellness Mama Avatar

      It really depends on your body and your specific conditions. You could always try the autoimmune protocol for 30 days and then reintroduce the foods and see how your body responds..

  8. Dawn Avatar

    I also have hashimotos and have had great results by removing gluten from my diet as well as a few other supplements. I totally agree that iodine only makes it worse! I see a specialist who told me at my first appointment diet could not control my symptoms or my thyroid but I proved him wrong! I am now completely off of my medications and feel much better!

  9. Deb T Avatar

    I haven’t read all of the comments, but have you read the book “Autoimmune: The Cause and The Cure”?
    It’s a real eye-opener and applies to any type of autoimmune disease. I just recently read it because I know too many people with AI Disease and wanted to know if there was any hope for finding the cause (my only child has Type 1 Diabetes). There are a lot of amazing medical studies to support the information in the book, and good advice even for people who don’t have AI Disease. And it’s all based on good, traditional food.

  10. Jody Avatar

    Rather interesting vitamin by Standard Process … Antronex.
    …contains a special liver extract which the Japanese called Yakriton. This enzyme is a natural anti-histamine. It can be safely used for people who have histamine toxicity like people with asthma and allergies. It has also been shown to help regulate blood pressure and clear extra thyroid hormone from the blood.

  11. Ashley Avatar

    I’m wondering if you can tell me what your symptoms were when you took iodine & felt ill? Last summer I took 1 drop/day of 7% Lugols iodine everyday with selenium…I had great energy (I suspected I had ME or subclinical hypo) & I was never ill, which was fantastic. THEN my throat swelled. I stopped iodine supplementing immediately, continuing selenium. I’m now due to see an Endo next Wednesday & will need a FNA. I’m suspecting Hashi’s diagnosis. There is so much conflicting advice about kelp, iodine for people with Hashi’s, it’s a minefield. I am annoyed at myself for getting into this situation…your upcoming posts will be greatly appreciated!

  12. Liliana Avatar

    I highly recommend Dr. Sandra Cabot’s book, ‘Your Thyroid Problems Solved.’ Holistic Solutions to improve your thyroid. Dr. Cabot has books on several subjects, and she is known as ‘the liver doctor.’ I love her holistic approach. Not only do her suggested methods work, they are empowering. You don’t feel like a victim who hasn’t a clue about what is happening to your body. Good luck everyone, improving your health! Oh, and you may want to look at diatomaceous earth as a supplement, as well.

  13. Britt Avatar

    Hi! First off, I love your blog. All the crunchy recipes are fun!

    Secondly, I have hashimoto’s disease, as well as an IBD. I am treating my diseases the natural way as well, and it is going pretty well thus far. Recently, I’ve been researching essential oils for thyroid support. This might be a subject you could look into (for your own use, as well as for the purpose of an interesting article). I have just began to use essential oils for thyroid support and am really hoping to see some results within the next several weeks!

  14. Maggie Avatar

    I was interested in the part of this post that talked about iodine added to salt did not work for people with thyroid issues. I, too, have been on a journey of working on helping my hypothyroidism, and with the help of my midwife my husband and I have come to understand that there are different forms of iodine, and more specifically, the kind in iodized salt is synthetic and therefore not recognized by the body. My midwife has me on Prolamine Iodine from Standard Process and I have seen a huge turn-around in the three C’s of hypothyroidism (craving caffeine, chocolate, and always feeling cold). Maybe don’t give up on iodine just yet, but remember you might have been given the wrong kind. 🙂

  15. Kate Avatar

    I was diagnosed with autoimmune hypothyroidism 4 years ago after the birth of my daughter. My TSH was incredibly high, 150, and was having very extreme symptoms. I didn’t believe the doctors when they said that taking Levothyroxine for life was the answer. So I went on and am still on an nutritional and alternative quest. Since being gluten free, juicing and generally looking after my health my levels are 1.7 TSH and I have no auto-immune issues. I am also now pregnant which took me a long time to achieve and even ‘specialists’ here in the UK didn’t really seem that specialised when talking to them about the condition, nutrition & pregnancy.
    I believe everyone is completely different and a ‘one size doesn’t fit all’
    I found that Maca totally through me out and made me feel awful while a little bit of iodine was ok. I think we just need to find our own solutions and take our health into our own hands.
    :o)

  16. Swati Garg Avatar
    Swati Garg

    Hi Katie,

    I am following your blog since last few weeks. I am from India.
    I have recently been diagnosed with autoimmune hypothyroid and Vitamin D3 deficiency. My antibodies and TSH levels are very high. My doctor has put me on external thyroid supplements which he keeps on increasing every week I go for a check-up. I have been told that this type of thyroid is non-curable and I will have to take the supplements for whole of my life (just the dosage may vary).

    I am not interested in being on medicines and would infact prefer to reverse the problem in a natural way.

    Can you please suggest some natural tips on what can help me in my problem. The more I read on internet, the more I get confused. Your blog is one source which I can trust. Moreover, how can I understand whether a particular change is improving my situation or not.

    Waiting for your detailed post on thyroid.

    Thanks,
    Swati

  17. Nola Avatar

    I’m interested to know how this relates to Nascent Iodine. My husband has started taking this to help with fluoride poisoning that has caused him joint pain for several years.

  18. Debra Avatar

    I have also experienced this poor affect supplementing iodine for my hypothyroid condition. I have to stay away from iodine! There is another practitioner in my area and I’ve been to many of his talks. Dr Datis Kharrazian wrote a book Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms?
    When My Lab Tests are Normal
    Feel free to share that resource. I’m finally happy on my dose of 120mg Armour but also have to work my diet to the best advantage. Good luck with your journey. And it IS a journey!

  19. apelila Avatar

    I have Hashimoto’s, 1.5 years after being on hormone replacement and the right selenium. I fell for the chiropractors out there attempting to practice medicine & telling folks to use iodine. What a nightmare that was! It “might” help someone who is hypothyroid, not in the high doses recommended, but for Hashi’s sufferers, some of the worst advice ever. LDN is helping me alittle bit. So far 1.5 years into Paleo has not helped me at all either. I’m in menopause and I suspect a lack of estrogen jumpstarted my autoimmune disease. No luck in finding a Dr. who really knows how to utilize bioidentical hormones.

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