Iodine lab draw

pod1257

My thyroid levels seem to be off (T3,T4) since hormone changes d/t breast ca. in 06. I am having them redrawn in March and wondered if they could draw an iodine level. Does anyone know if a low blood level of iodine correlates with an iodine deficiency?

Just wondering. Thanks for any info.

Julie

NativeMainer

Julie--I've checked my resources (I'm a nursing instructor) and I cannot find a reference that gives "normal" blood iodine levels.  I'm finding references to urine iodine measurement to evaluate thyroid functioning and the effect of iodine supplementation but these relate to specific thyroid conditions other than simple hypothryroidism.  Iodine deficiency is very, very rare in the US and Europe due to "ionization" of table salt, addition of iodine to bread products and iodine supplementation of beef cattle.  Thyroid hormone levels are used to determine thyroid functioning, and there are more tests that can be done if the T3 and T4 are still off in March.  Also, thyroid hormone levels are notoriously variable, and affected by a lot of things.  Since full diagnosis of a thyroid problem includes a radioactive iodine uptake test there is a bit of "watchful waiting" and thyroid hormone testing, including TSH and TRH levels, and possibly a ultrasound.  Talk with your doc about the plan regarding watching/testing your thyroid levels. 

pod1257

Thanks Nativemainer,

Very informative. I agree, watchful waiting might be the best answer, as I don't have any of the usual symptoms of low thyroid, except fatigue, which could be from other causes. I don't want to add thyroid meds to my already long list of meds/supplements, unless absolutely necessary.

 Thanks again.

Julie

NativeMainer

You're welcome.  I was diagnosed in 3/07,  I still have fatigue that never has completely gone away, although it has gotten better.  Of course, I haven't slept well since March of 07, which might have something to do with it.  Don't blame you for not wanting to add any more meds.  Hope you've got a good doc to work with--that makes things a lot easier.

althea

You may want to investigate the iodine research project.  You can get reimbursed for an iodine test and share your results with the team that is researching the possible link between iodine deficiency and breast cancer.  The test involves collecting urine for 24 hours and sending a sample to the lab for analysis. 

You can also get your bromide levels tested from the same sample.   That would cost extra, but it would be very good information to have. Iodine competes with bromide, flouride, and chlorine for the same receptors.  Most communities have flouride and chlorine in the drinking water, and bromide is in citrus flavored drinks like mountain dew.  Also, we used to have iodine in bread products, but that practice was discontinued decades ago and many commercial bakeries use brominated flour in its place.  Plus carpets, mattresses, upholsteries, electronics are also sources of bromide offgassing.  While it's true that goiter can be prevented in most people with the 150 mcg RDA of iodine, there's typically a big gap between minimum requirements and optimum needs.  If you want to learn more about it, lots of info is available at breastcancerchoices.org.