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Q. When my internist noted a low-normal thyroid value, he suggested a thyroid supplement. I suspected I had an iodine deficiency from years on a low-salt diet. I proposed a trial of sea kelp and he agreed. Two 100 mg tablets a day brought up the thyroid value to normal and warmed my cold toes. I also noted my foot fungus receded 90 percent.A. Using iodine to treat an underactive thyroid gland is controversial. Very few Americans get too little iodine, though your years of avoiding iodized salt may have resulted in an inadequate iodine intake for you.
In a case report, a woman who used kelp as an iodine supplement aggravated her thyroid disease (Journal of General Internal Medicine, June 2006). We're glad you worked with your doctor and got good results, but we don't generally recommend this approach.
Great to know your experience with Kelp. I am totally amazed that Kelp could correct Thyroid values and would like to know more if you can share. I currently am thinking of taking up Kelp, but fear of overdosing is stopping me.
In 1959, I was a 19 year old nursing student at a big teaching hospital. In those days the med. students used us as part of varying research projects and took blood tests and other data. From these studies I learned I had low thyroid values. The older doctor in charge of our student health told me I was too young to be placed on thyroxin and to have it checked again in 5 years. I forgot about it completely until I was 29 and had occasion to have it drawn again. My Dr. suggested I try kelp tablets since we rarely ate fish at home, and the level was still just below normal. So I did, once a day. To my surprise I began having once a month menstrual periods! All my life I had had a period once every two or 3 months. My hands and feet weren't freezing any more.
Several years later, my oldest son complained to me that he was worried, at 15, because he hadn't showed signs of puberty yet and his younger twin brothers were showing signs already at 13. I thought maybe because I had been skinny and low thyroid during his pregnancy maybe his thyroid might also need a little iodine as I had. So we gave him 1 small kelp tablet daily. In a month he began showing secondary sexual changes. Boy was he relieved! Was it the kelp or just his time? I don't know.
I stopped taking it many years ago when our diet became more healthful and the thyroid tests were at normal and still are. Thyroid is complicated business.
Presently I am taking Levothyroxine 0.125mg daily. Can I also take some Kelp with it or take Kelp alone for some trial?
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: THE ADVICE WE HAVE SEEN SUGGESTS NOT MIXING KELP WITH LEVOTHYROXINE.