Iodine Toxicity – Beware of Thyroid Disease Caused by Iodine Therapy
Majid Ali, M.D.
Iodine is the essential nutrient for the thyroid gland. Many patients with thyroid disorders – with overactive or sluggish thyroid function – cannot be optimally managed without needed iodine supplementation.
I do not prescribe iodine supplementation without 24-hour urinary iodine excretion test. The skin iodine rub test does not give precise quantitative information about the body’s iodine status. So I do not use it.
Iodine Toxicity
I have seen three cases of iodine toxicity created by blind, heavy, and prolonged iodine therapy. Two of them developed hyperthyroidism (overactive gland) and the third had hypothyroidism. All three showed massive iodine overload by 24-hour urinary iodine test.
So, please beware of iodine toxicity caused by unmonitored iodine therapy.
be ue
