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Can too much Iodine cause or worsen Hashimoto's disease?
I was recently diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease because my TPO was 223. But my TSH was normal. The doc said my thyroid was low. I have been taking Armour 15mg plus Iodoral 12.5mg and Selenium 200mcg for almost a year. From my readings, I believe the iodine overload from the Iodoral may have caused this antibody response. I have nothing to compare it to, as I never had the TPO measured before. I have read that too much can be just as bad as not enough. What is your opinion on this?
Thank you so much for your very astute and carefully considered comment. It really is so complicated, this whole system. It seems no one really understands it too well. I am going to see a specialist tomorrow, so hopefully he will help me sort it all out. Thank you so much again.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Do you have a link to that article? I'd like to look at the studies.
There is a very indepth two part article, with numerous studies, from Perfect Health Diet - Iodine and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. This excerpt sums up the article...
"A survey of the literature suggests that Hashimoto’s is largely unaffected by iodine intake. However, the literature may be distorted by three circumstances under which iodine increases may harm, and iodine restriction help, Hashimoto’s patients:
Selenium deficiency causes an intolerance of high iodine.
Iodine intake via seaweed is accompanied by thyrotoxic metals and halides.
Sudden increases in iodine can induce a reactive hypothyroidism.
All three of these negatives can be avoided by supplementing selenium along with iodine, using potassium iodide rather than seaweed as the source of iodine, and increasing iodine intake gradually.
It’s plausible that if iodine were supplemented in this way, then Hashimoto’s patients would experience benefits with little risk of harm. Anecdotally, a number have reported benefits from supplemental iodine.
Other evidence emphasizes the need for balance between iodine and selenium. Just as iodine without selenium can cause hypothyroidism, so too can selenium without iodine. Both are needed for good health."
"A survey of the literature suggests that Hashimoto’s is largely unaffected by iodine intake. However, the literature may be distorted by three circumstances under which iodine increases may harm, and iodine restriction help, Hashimoto’s patients:
Selenium deficiency causes an intolerance of high iodine.
Iodine intake via seaweed is accompanied by thyrotoxic metals and halides.
Sudden increases in iodine can induce a reactive hypothyroidism.
All three of these negatives can be avoided by supplementing selenium along with iodine, using potassium iodide rather than seaweed as the source of iodine, and increasing iodine intake gradually.
It’s plausible that if iodine were supplemented in this way, then Hashimoto’s patients would experience benefits with little risk of harm. Anecdotally, a number have reported benefits from supplemental iodine.
Other evidence emphasizes the need for balance between iodine and selenium. Just as iodine without selenium can cause hypothyroidism, so too can selenium without iodine. Both are needed for good health."
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