Thyroid Function and Iodide/Iodine Information

[martinM]

I’ve been reading about iodine and thyroid function. There are two types of iodine, iodide and iodine (oxidized). Most foods and supplements only provide iodide. This website http://www.vitamincfoundation.org/iodine.htm recommends taking both. Read the page of this link for further info and where to buy supplements with both forms.

Though it isn’t very efficient, iodine can also be absorbed through the skin.

http://thyroid.about.com/library/derry/bl2a.htm

I tried the spot test, putting a dark patch of iodine in solution on my inner upper arm. It disappeared within 5 hours (overnight). I woke up early this morning and put another patch on a different area to observe during the day. This is anecdotal, but I got the biggest, hardest erection from looking at porn that I’ve had in over a month. It happened within a couple minutes. I’m not attributing anything right now just trying to track the initial reaction.

Boston2009, regarding Tyrosine, read the exerpt below from Wiki. It seems tyrosine is needed in conjunction with iodine to form thyroid hormones. There is also something on this site suggesting a balance of minerals is required for proper thyroid function, so supplementing just one may cause imbalance. It would also explain high copper if something else was lacking and dragging down thyroid function. http://altmedangel.com/iodine.htm

To reactivate the thyroid gland, tyrosine, iodine, zinc, copper and selenium are needed.

From Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iodine

Iodine is rare in the solar system and Earth’s crust; however, iodide salts are often very soluble in water. Consequently, the element occurs in greater concentrations in seawater than in rocks. Iodine naturally occurs in the environment chiefly as a dissolved iodide in seawater, although it is also found in some minerals and soils.[3] This element also exists in small amounts in the mineral caliche, found in Chile, between the Andes and the sea. A type of seaweed, kelp, tends to be high in iodine as well. Aside from tungsten, iodine is the heaviest element to be essential to any living organisms, and iodine is the heaviest element thought to be needed by all living organisms.

Iodine’s main role in animal biology is as a constituent of the thyroid hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These are made from addition condensation products of the amino acid tyrosine, and are stored prior to release in an iodine-containing protein called thyroglobulin. IT4 and T3 contain four and three atoms of iodine per molecule, respectively. The thyroid gland actively absorbs iodide from the blood to make and release these hormones into the blood, actions which are regulated by a second hormone TSH from the pituitary. Thyroid hormones are phylogenetically very old molecules which are synthesized by most multicellular organisms, and which even have some effect on unicellular organisms.
Thyroid hormones play a basic role in biology, acting on gene transcription to regulate the basal metabolic rate.[citation needed] The total deficiency of thyroid hormones can reduce basal metabolic rate up to 50%, while in excessive production of thyroid hormones the basal metabolic rate can be increased by 100%.[citation needed] T4 acts largely as a precursor to T3, which is (with minor exceptions) the biologically active hormone.

[bigmike01]

Martin,
It looks like u beat me to it,I was gonna post about iodine also.I have failed the iodine test every day for a week so far,this combined with low d3 levels and low body temp proves we are hypothyroid.I have researched this extensively everyday for over a month and have concluded that this is the cause of our problems.Whats funny is that normal thyroid numbers mean nothing here because I have read that thousands of people are hypothyroid with normal blood tests,this problem is called stealth hypothyroidism.Read this article it is very good.
mbschachter.com/iodine.htm

[martinM]

Good info. Further reading has led to a strong connection with the adrenal gland, both cortisol and aldosterone are intimately linked with iodine and thyroid function in addition to salt/potassium balance.

1. Thyroid hormones, fueled by iodide, control metabolism in the body. They are active in every cell if they are allowed to enter.

2. Cortisol works in the cells to let the thyroid hormones in. Cortisol also allows the nutrients to enter the cells. Low cortisol means the cells cannot get the food they need to function, It’s like putting a lock on the gas tank.

3. Aldosterone controls blood quantity and pressure, salt and potassium balance. Low aldosterone means the body constantly pushes salt to the kidneys along with water regardless of how low the salt level is in the body (salt wasting). This in turn dehydrates and lowers blood pressure and can lead to a high pulse rate because the heart works harder to keep the pressure up pumping less blood through the system.

Here are some interesting links on the subject:

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/aldosterone/
http://forums.realthyroidhelp.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=15450
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=8244
http://forums.realthyroidhelp.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=18422

I do, and have done since before taking Finasteride, urinate often. I believe it’s a condition called “salt wasting”. In addition, iodine provides a very strong effect in my body. I am definitely reacting strangely to treatments in these areas so far. The good news is that I am reacting. I’m putting a short description up on my member story, find it at the link in my signature.