Iodine deficiency and thyroid problems

Since it is very easy to manage your iodine intake through food and drinking water, care must be taken to consume adequate amounts of iodine-containing foods because it is essential for the production of thyroid hormones. Iodine deficiency can lead to thyroid disorders in the long run, with symptoms like fatigue, obesity, impaired concentration, and discomfort. Incidentally, low thyroid hormone levels also make it very difficult to lose weight.

The role of iodine in the human body

Iodine and thyroid function

An essential condition for healthy thyroid function is to have the right amount of iodine available to the body. If you do not get enough through nutrition or fluid intake, you will have thyroid dysfunction, or it can also result hypothyroidism, enlargement, goiter or nodules.

Iodine and mental health

Hormones produced by the thyroid gland also play an important role in mental health, helping to activate neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain. Without the right amount of thyroid hormone, we can experience depression, insomnia, fatigue, and concentration problems.

Iodine during pregnancy

Changes in thyroid function occur during pregnancy. The size of the thyroid gland will increase minimally, but the amount of hormones produced in it will be practically one and a half times higher than before. Thus, the amount of iodine required also increases, which is why most pregnancy vitamins contain iodine. Iodine deficiency may increase the risk of miscarriage, neonatal death, or the baby’s cognitive development may also be impaired.

What is the daily amount of iodine needed?

Over the age of 11 years old, 150 mcg is the required daily amount of iodine. Children at different ages need different amounts, while adults in different stages of life – such as pregnancy, breastfeeding – may need to adjust the amount they consume for the reasons previously described.

Signs and dangers of iodine deficiency

How can we recognize if we have iodine deficiency and what health risks does it entail?

Symptoms of iodine deficiency

A sign of iodine deficiency, for example, is constantly dry, cracked skin that does not go away no matter how much we lubricate or moisturize. Hair loss can also indicate iodine deficiency; not the normal kind of hairloss with some hair remainining on the comb, but extreme degree hair loss. Cold hands and feet can be interpreted also as a characteristic symptom, indicating a disturbance in body heat balance.

As the thyroid gland struggles to produce hormones, its size also increases. In severe cases, it is very visible as it arches at the front of the neck, which can even cause difficulty swallowing.

Health risks of iodine deficiency

Iodine deficiency, as mentioned earlier, can be the cause of many diseases. Many times, you have symptoms that may seem like a common problem, but as they get worse, serious illnesses can develop over time. Underactive thyroid gland, goiter, or even fetal brain damage during pregnancy can be traced back to iodine deficiency.

Iodine deficiency has also been linked to cardiovascular diseases, and it appears that iodine deficiency may make you more prone to atherosclerosis as cholesterol levels rise at that time.

How does iodine affect the thyroid gland and, through it, body weight?

Iodine deficiency triggers changes in the thyroid gland that weaken metabolism and can cause other weight-related problems. Iodine is found in high concentrations in breast tissue and ovaries, which also affects estrogen production and metabolism. In its absence, changes that affect virtually the entire body can occur.

Slowing down your metabolism leads to weight gain. This weight gain occurs mainly around the hips and although appetite increases, it does not justify the increase in fat mass that can be seen in hypothyroidism. At the same time, the constant feeling of fatigue and exhaustion can hinder us in physical work and movement, which increases obesity and makes it difficult to lose weight and regain normal body weight. In such cases, drug hormone replacement may be required.

However, before administering your body iodine on your own, it is worth asking your doctor for an opinion on the source of the problem, because excessive iodine intake can also be harmful. Mild forms of hypothyroidism may require an increase in iodine intake, but a more severe problem may require more effective help, either in the form of hormone replacement or surgery. Intake of higher than the prescribed amount of iodine can also cause problems, so this should be avoided; iodine intake should not be used as trick to lose weight. In addition, excessive iodine intake can even cause vomiting, diarrhea, and cold-like symptoms such as runny nose.

Foods rich in iodine

Iodine is found in many foods, such as:

• Seaweed: Between the brown and red seaweeds, brown contains a larger amount of iodine, but this amount also depends on where the seaweed is located. Nori seaweed, which is used for sushi, can cover 11-29% of your daily iodine needs per gram.

• Cod: This fish, which is lower in fat and calories, is a very good source of minerals, and contains approx. 70% of the daily iodine requirement.

• Dairy products: Milk, yoghurt and cottage cheese are good choices, all three contain different amounts of iodine, but this can vary depending on the manufacturer and manufacturing process.

• Iodized salt: Especially popular in countries where the regular drinking water has low iodine content.

• Crab: It is also a great source of nutrients as it is low in fat but high in protein. In terms of iodine levels, 100 grams of crab covers roughly 30% of iodine needs.

• Eggs: Also a source of high protein nutrients, useful and beneficial for both athletes and non-athletes. A medium egg covers roughly 16% of your daily iodine needs.

Vitamins and minerals in case of iodine deficiency

BioTechUSA also offers dietary supplements to supplement your daily iodine intake.

Several multivitamins such as Multivitamin for Men, Multivitamin for Women, Vitabolic, One-A-Day and Vitamin Complex contain iodine, but among the weight control formulas Mega Fat Burner, Fat-X and Black Burn are also suitable to supplement iodine intake. And a product called L-Tyrosine specifically contains tyrosine and iodine to normalize metabolic processes. The iodine content of the product contributes to the normal production of thyroid hormones and the normal functioning of the thyroid gland.

What should you eat if you are following a low iodine diet?

If you need to avoid iodine intake from food and supplements, it is a good idea to tailor your vitamin pack individually. Hyperthyroidism, inflammatory problems, autoimmune processes can also be reduced with appropriate dietary supplements. In case of thyroid problems, it is recommended to consume B-complex vitamins because they are also involved in thyroid function and regulation of hormones.

Selenium also supports thyroid synthesis and metabolism, which is found, for example, in the H2 Q10 capsule. It is also recommended to be consumed in case of your thyroid is overworking.

Zinc also helps the thyroid gland and the hormones it releases to function properly, which Zinc + Chelate can provide support for.

Research has linked thyroid hyperactivity to vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D supplementation also had a good effect in patients with hyperthyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis.

So we can see that thyroid dysfunction can cause problems in many areas of life. Constant feeling of tiredness, sleep disturbances, obesity, increased appetite, depression or lack of focus are all symptoms that can be caused by a disorder in the functioning of the thyroid gland, which can often be traced back to iodine deficiency. Especially in regions and countries where tap water is iodine deficient, so the body does not get the required amount. However, dietary supplements can be a solution that will help us and provide the amount we need daily if we are unable to get this into our bodies through nutrients. Hyperthyroidism is also an existing phenomenon, in which case we just need to be careful to reduce iodine intake. Well-chosen, dietary supplements can help us in this as well, but as described in the article, we should choose from them with due care and medical background!