Some thyroid patients are advised to eliminate iodine from their diets if they are scheduled for testing or other procedures involving radioactive iodine. Iodine is very necessary to proper thyroid health because it is the element that thyroid hormone is made from. Over-supplementing or taking iodine when you are scheduled for a procedure as described or if you having thyroid autoimmunity this may cause you to react adversely to it.
Not long ago, we had a discussion about "sea salt" and "kosher salt" on the Thyroid Health Forum and the fact that there are brands with "low iodine" in them but also both types that come in brands with no-iodine or that are rich in iodine. I mentioned the importance in reading the brand-label you use carefully to see if iodine is an ingredient. I feel people with thyroid autoimmunity (Hashimoto's and Graves') are not in danger of reactions to iodine if they only use iodized table salt sparingly. If you use high content iodine supplements or salt or frequent use of iodized salt, there is research that says it can increase auto-antibody activity. If the sea salt you're using contains iodine, you might consider using one with "no iodine" or a kosher salt with no iodine, just in case it is aggravating your thyroid autoimmunity. This is more of a precaution than an absolute problem area because it may not be affecting you. It doesn't hurt to make sure.
In regard to iodine helping some hypothyroid patients, it definitely is the treatment for iodine-deficiency hypothyroidism and colloid/endemic goiters and may also be helpful to some Hashimoto's patients. The problem is, a Hashimoto's patient doesn't know in advance, so can only determine this if they take a trial of iodine supplementation. The risk is a bad reaction to it and in my case for example, 6 years ago, I was using "Lugol's Solution" as an iodine supplement. I would put a drop on soft tissue on my arm and it would absorb within hours. This indicated to me that my thyroid was in need of the iodine, so I took a drop of it for several days and afterward became very ill. I actually thought it was a fluke but tried it on two more occassions and became ill each time. That's not to say other Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients would not have a good reaction to it but maybe a significant risk for them to find out.
Below are research quotes that say iodine is a risk for increased thyroid autoimmune activity.
"A great deal of circumstantial evidence has linked iodine with the rising incidence of autoimmune thyroiditis in the United States.”
Research Article Link
"In genetically predisposed individuals the iodine intake modulates autoimmune thyroid reactions. Especially with acute or chronic increase of iodine intake it leads to a significant increase in the incidence and intensity of autoimmune thyroid disease."
Research Article Link
Click Here For My Lists of Ebooks and Audio Downloads
