Iodine - Dosage Guidelines for Lugol's Solution or IODORAL®(tablet form of Lugol's)
Iodine - Dosage Guidelines for Lugol's Solution or IODORAL®(tablet form of Lugol's)
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to iodine supplementation, since everyone's needs are different.
The first goal is to attain whole-body iodine sufficiency (an estimated body total of 1.5g)
Whole-body iodine
sufficiency takes about a year to achieve with a daily intake of 12.5 mg
iodine /iodide. i.e. 1 tablet Iodoral® or 2 drops Lugol's solution.
In 8 normal subjects who achieved whole body
iodine sufficiency, the fasting serum inorganic iodide
levels ranged from 0.85 to 1.34 mg/L 24 hrs after the last intake of
iodine .
However, use caution with sever
hyperthyroidism or diabetic neuropathy. Almost all adults
can start at the 12.5 mg dose with no health problems, but for
those with severe hypothyroidism and/or diabetic neuropathy, an initial dose of
even 1 mg may be too much - as the iodine restores metabolic function to
nerves, the dying peripheral nerves start being revived, which can send
increasing amounts of abnormal signals to the brain, often experienced as
intense itching and/or phantom pains. As they recover, the nerves eventually
start acting more normally, and the pains and itching gradually go away.
Unfortunately, the more damage, the longer and more painful is the recovery. To
make the recovery bearable, the iodine dose
must be low to allow a gradual rebuilding of the nerves over months, or even
years.
Serious issues may need a stepped-up dose - some
taking about 3 months at 50mg
iodine / iodide
per day
(4 tablets Iodoral®, 8 drops Lugol's, best split into 2
morning and afternoon doses). This
is the amount shown to have positive impact on serious illnesses such as breast
cancer, thyroid cancer or autoimmune thyroid disorders.
- Start with 12.5 mg iodine/iodide
(1 tablet Iodoral® or 2 drops Lugol's solution)
and build up slowly.
Maintain dose for a few days, until you reach a
maximum 50mg
iodine/iodide per day (spaced out) according to
your body's comfort level.
For guidelines on Lugol's dosage for specific problems:
Lugol's Dosage chart
Trust your own instinct / judgement and adjust the dose downward if you have any of the following symptoms indicating
excessive iodine intake:
Excess Iodine
Symptoms
Excess Thyroid Hormone
Symptoms#
(HYPERTHYROIDISM)
Acne, rashes*
Diarrhea
Headache
Increased salivation / runny nose*
Metallic taste in mouth*
Nausea
Sneezing
Nervousness
Palpitations
Racing pulse
Insomnia
Sweating palms
Oily skin
* An unpleasant brassy taste, runny nose, and acne-like skin lesions are caused
by the bromide that iodine extracts
from the tissues.
http://www.iodine4health.com/overviews/uses/ford_uses.htm
# Generally:
• Iodine
increases thyroid function ▲ if you are
iodine deficient
• Iodine
decreases thyroid function ▼ if you are iodine
sufficient
After reaching whole body sufficiency. Cut
back slowly on the daily dose until you are at maintenance level (see below).
Maintenance level
General guideline for iodine maintenance dose
Once whole-body sufficiency is attained,
as a general guideline, ~3 mg
iodine/
iodide (¼ Iodoral tablet or 1 small drop
Lugol's) / day should be a
generally sufficient dose for optimal
function of the body's glands and organs.
This dose is equivalent to the average daily
intake of a person in Japan. However, a daily 3mg maintenance dose is just a guideline and will need to be adjusted
for personal factors affecting your personal need for
iodine:
Factors affecting personal iodine maintenance dose
Being female
Women tend to need more
iodine/iodide than men .
T he female breasts concentrate elemental
iodine from available
iodide .
Goitrogenic load
The requirement for iodine
depends on the individual's goitrogenic load.
A goitrogen interferes with the uptake and utilization of
iodine by target cells. The greater the
goitrogenic load, the greater the need for iodine .
Examples of goitrogens are bromine, chlorine, fluorine, and soy - all commonly
found in today's diet and environment.
Goitrogens vs. iodine
Toxic body
Restoring
iodine concentrations too quickly may overload body with toxins.
Since iodine mobilizes toxic
metals and goitrogenic halides from their storage sites, it may not be wise to
achieve whole body sufficiency for iodine too
rapidly since mobilization of these toxic substances may increase their
peripheral levels high enough to cause symptoms. A complete nutritional program combined with increased fluid intake will
help the body eliminate these toxic elements more safely.
For those experiencing detox side effects. E.g. constipation, acne or rash, often as a result of
detoxing bromide into the bloodstream
causing bromism symptoms (other bromism symptoms include lethargy, depression,
"dark" thoughts, brain fog, leg and hip pain):
- Side-effects are
usually reversible in 24-48 hours. By discontinuing the iodine and allowing a short period of washout
before restarting at a lower dose;
- Use 1/2 tsp. Celtic or Himalayan sea salt dissolved in a
large glass of water. This speeds up the bromide detox through
the kidneys;
Drink additional water
Nutrient deficiency
Consider your status for vitamins or minerals
required for normal thyroid synthesis. E.g.
vitamin A ,
vitamin B6 ,
selenium and
magnesium . Deficiencies of any of these will have had a negative impact
on how your previous iodine intake was utilized. These deficiencies should be addressed.
Nutrient support for TH production
Omega-6 /
Omega-3 / good animal fat Intake
Omega-6 fats
suppress thyroid function. These
fats are consumed to excess (some estimate 20% of caloric intake) in the typical
Western diet in the form of commercial vegetable oils; studies have shown that
omega-6 rich corn oil suppresses liver response to T4, compared to lard,
safflower oil similarly suppresses T3 response compared to beef tallow, and
omega-6
linoleic acid
suppresses both liver and brown fat response to T3. (the
liver responds to TH for body temperature control). In the 70's,
linoleic acid
was even considered as a treatment for hyperthyroidism. Those consuming a
balance of omega-6 /omega-3
and eating good animal//fish fats, e.g. grass-fed butter and wild
oily fish, may need a lower iodine intake. (Omega-6 Linoleic Acid Suppresses Thyroid
Signaling, 2008)
We need more Omega-3
Fats and
Oils
Be aware of some side-effects of iodine supplementation
Side effects of iodine supplementation
References Omega-6 Linoleic Acid Suppresses Thyroid Signaling, December 19, 2008. Link