May 23rd, 2009 . by Dr. Munoz
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body lacks sufficient thyroid hormone. Since the main purpose of thyroid hormone is to “run the body’s metabolism”, it is understandable that people with this condition will have symptoms associated with a slow metabolism. Most research says if you live in the United States you are less likely to be deficient in iodine but over five million Americans have this common medical condition. In fact, as many as ten percent of women may have some degree of thyroid hormone deficiency. Hypothyroidism is more common than you would believe…and, millions of people are currently hypothyroid and don’t know it! Iodine is an essential mineral for the body’s production of hormones. The thyroid gland doesn’t only regulates the body’s metabolism but also growth and development and the healthiness of skin and hair. Iodine is needed to produce the thyroid hormone thyroxine. If one is iodine deficient the thyroid gland will swell and is called a goitre. Goitres typically appear during puberty or pregnancy. The complications during pregnancy, if iodine deficient, are: increased rate of miscarriage, mental retardation of the child, increased infant mortality, decreased fertility rate, neurologic defects and growth abnormalities known as cretinism. Worldwide, iodine deficiency is the leading cause of preventable mental retardation.
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight
- Coarse, dry hair
- Dry, rough pale skin
- Hair loss
- Cold intolerance (can’t tolerate the cold like those around you)
- Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches
- Constipation
- Depression
- Irritability
- Puffiness around the eyes
- Memory loss
- Abnormal menstrual cycles
- Decreased libido
| Table 1. Common Sources of Dietary Iodine |
| Breads |
Iodized table salt & Sea salt |
| Cheese |
Saltwater fish |
| Cow’s milk |
Seaweed (including kelp, dulce, nori) |
| Eggs |
Shellfish |
| Frozen yogurt |
Soy milk |
| Ice cream |
Soy sauce |
| Iodine-containing multivitamins |
Yogurt
Haddock
Cod
Condensed milk
|
| Table 2. Median Population Urinary Iodine Values and Iodine Nutrition |
|
MEDIAN URINARY IODINE CONCENTRATION (μg/L)
|
CORRESPONDING IODINE INTAKE (μg/day)
|
IODINE NUTRITION
|
| <20 |
<30
|
Severe deficiency
|
| 20-49 |
30-74
|
Moderate deficiency
|
| 50-99 |
175-149
|
Mild deficiency
|
| 100-199 |
150-299
|
Optimal
|
| 200-299 |
300-449
|
More than adequate
|
| >299 |
>449
|
Possible excess
|
[From WHO, UNICEF and ICCIDD 2001 Assessment of the Iodine Deficiency Disorders and monitoring their elimination. A guide for programme managers. WHO publ., Geneva. WHO/NHD/01.1] |
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If you want to get a diagnosis you could have your urine tested. Your urinalysis should include the iodine concentration and you can compare it to the levels in the table above to see if you are deficient in iodine or not. You can take kelp iodine supplements in liquid or pills. You should monitor your thyroid problem. While you are at the lab have them test your blood for the thyroid hormone levels. The idea is to measure blood levels of T4 and TSH. In the typical person with an under-active thyroid gland, the blood level of T4 (the main thyroid hormone) will be low, while the TSH level will be high. This means that the thyroid is not making enough hormone and the pituitary recognizes it and is responding appropriately by making more Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) in an attempt to force more hormone production out of the thyroid. There are also normal levels of these two hormones that you would have to compare your numbers to. You can also check your blood pressure.
Keep Healthy,
Dr. Munoz
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