Are we iodine-deficient?

[Pointedstick]

Is there anything to the idea that most people are iodine-deficient, as claimed by various folks? E.g. http://www.amazon.com/Iodine-Need-Cant- ... 0966088239

It's claimed that the Japanese get 12 mg of iodine per day on average, which is like 80 times more than the FDA's recommended daily intake, and that this contributes to their good health for a variety of plausible-sounding reasons.

Fact or fiction?

[Tyler]

Considering seafood is a significant source of iodine in the diet, it's no surprise that Japan consumes way more than the US.  And based on my own history I know full-well that iodine intake and thyroid health are absolutely related.

FWIW, a doctor once told me that thanks to iodized salt most Americans get enough iodine.  But that's just one data point.

[Cortopassi]

PS,

I followed an iodine forum on Yahoo for a while and read this book:  http://www.amazon.com/Iodine-Need-Cant- ... 0966088239

It had me convinced enough that I was deficient given some symptoms I had, esp. cold hands. 

The one thing you see about almost everything out there supplement wise is that if a little is good for you, then a lot must be even better.  There are posters in these groups who are ingesting massive amounts of iodine to detox their bodies of metals, supposedly, and when they aren't getting the results they want, and/or are having serious reactions, most responses are stick it out, you'll be glad you did.  Most don't even consider that it could now be the massive iodine levels they are taking in.

I supplemented for a few months with a couple kelp tablets, and I kept a log.  I found no help from iodine.  I have done this with probably a couple dozen different supplements, from things supposed to help mind, mood, joints, immunity, etc.  Most all had zero effect on me personally, and many caused general upset stomach during the time I was taking.

These are the only supplements I have found useful:

Vitamin D, esp in winter, seems to have kept my overall well being feeling more level.  I would normally be pretty lethargic/depressed by February with the short days
Hyaluronic Acid.  I can 100% correlate that to moister skin and possibly sharper eyesight.  It has on occasion given me stomach upset though.
Magnesium Citrate, keeps me regular, which is the main reason.  When the day starts with a good one of those, well, that's a good start! 

[Pointedstick]

Great info, Cortopassi! Thanks for sharing!

[Mark Leavy]

I have a lot of respect for examine.com as a fairly well researched and neutral source of good information.  Even on topics where they don't agree with me.

http://examine.com/supplements/Iodine/

Personally, I don't supplement with iodine, but I do eat a lot of seafood and I use a lot regular table salt.

[jafs]

I take a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement, and it contains the RDA for iodine, which is quite low, 150mcg/day.

If you're using a lot of table salt, you're probably getting a lot more sodium than is generally recommended.

[WildAboutHarry]

Don't see goiter around much these days.

Not even in the "Goiter Belt".

[MachineGhost]

Is there anything to the idea that most people are iodine-deficient, as claimed by various folks? E.g. http://www.amazon.com/Iodine-Need-Cant- ... 0966088239

It's claimed that the Japanese get 12 mg of iodine per day on average, which is like 80 times more than the FDA's recommended daily intake, and that this contributes to their good health for a variety of plausible-sounding reasons.

Fact or fiction?

Do you really have to ask?  Of course we're iodine deficient! 

The Japanese eat 1-3mg of iodine a day on average from seaweed, not the 12 mg which is outdated/flawed.  So shoot for that zone and no higher.  Titrate your dose slowly, i.e. double the dose every month to minimize reactive hyperthyroidism.

There's no iodine in sea salt, Himalaya salt, etc..

Goiter is caused by insufficiency.  Insufficiency <- Deficiency <- Inadeqaute <- Adequate <- Suboptimal <- Optimal.