Iodine

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1 paper read.

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Before you take it

• Benefit from supplementation in iodine-sufficient individuals is not established; iodine status testing before supplementation is advisable given the documented risk of harm in sufficient individuals.
• Drug interaction: combined use with antithyroid medications (methimazole, propylthiouracil) produces an additive hypothyroid effect at high iodine doses (NIH ODS).
• Drug interaction: potassium iodide salt forms increase hyperkalemia risk when combined with ACE inhibitors (benazepril, lisinopril, fosinopril) — NIH ODS.
• Drug interaction: potassium iodide salt forms increase hyperkalemia risk when combined with potassium-sparing diuretics (spironolactone, amiloride) — NIH ODS.
• NIH ODS Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for adults 19+ is 1,100 mcg/day from all sources (food, beverages, and supplements combined).
• Pregnancy RDA increases to 220 mcg/day (WHO recommends 250 mcg/day); UL remains 1,100 mcg/day; supplementation during pregnancy and lactation should be medically supervised.
• Risk of triggering or accelerating autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease) in individuals with pre-existing thyroid autoimmunity, a common and often undiagnosed condition.
• Wolff-Chaikoff effect: excess iodine intake in iodine-sufficient individuals can paradoxically suppress thyroid hormone synthesis, potentially inducing the very hypothyroidism it purports to treat.