Side Effects of Iodine Supplementation

Body warms up.   Iodine speeds up metabolism, which can produce extra heat.

Iodism.   Dose-related; symptoms are unpleasant brassy taste, increased salivation, head cold, sneezing, and headache originating in the frontal sinuses. Dr. Guy Abraham and Dr. Jorge Flechas maintain that there has been no iodism observed at the 12.5mg/day dosage. Symptoms disappear spontaneously within a few days after stopping iodine supplementation.

Bromine detoxification.    If bromine is eliminated quickly there will be symptoms such as cloudy, sediment-filled urine, body odor, rashes and extreme fatigue.1/2 tsp. of sea salt /day in water is recommended, as the bromine will follow the sodium out of the body, relieving symptoms more quickly. Also taking about 5g Vitamin C / day aids detoxification. (but don't take within 2 hours of taking iodine, or effects of iodine will be neutralized)

Iodine Induced Hyperthyroidism (IHH) occurs predominately in iodine-deficient persons during the early period of iodine supplementation.   The use of iodine in a previously iodine-deficient population may result in a TRANSIENT INCREASE in thyroid hormones...Studies have shown that the increase in thyroid hormones, which could lead to hyperthyroid symptoms (palpitations, nervousness), will gradually decrease. The possible reason is identified in the 8th edition of Werner and Ingbar's The Thyroid, published in 2000: “. . . iodine deficiency increases thyrocyte proliferation and mutation rates. Possible consequences are the development of hyperfunctioning autonomous nodules in the thyroid ... and hyperthyroidism after iodine supplementation. Therefore, IIH is an IDD (Iodine Deficiency Disorder)."

Iodine-induced goiter (IIG) / hypothyroidism.   When animals or humans that are iodine deficient are given large doses of iodine, there is a TRANSIENT DECREASE in thyroid hormone production (approx. 26-40 hrs.) until the body reestablishes it's equilibrium with iodine. After that, thyroid levels adjust to normal and signs of hypothyroid do not develop.

Thyroid cancer is NOT a likely side-effect of iodine supplementation

Dr. David Brownstein states, "There have been some reports in the literature that iodine supplementation can be associated with an increased incidence of thyroid papillary cancer. If iodine usage were the cause of thyroid cancer, then falling iodine levels would be expected to lead to lowered thyroid cancer levels. However, this has not been the case. During the last several decades, when iodine levels have DECLINED, the incidence of thyroid cancer has markedly INCREASED". (Dr. Brownstein's book - Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without it).

References

Eskin B., Bartuska D., Dunn M., Jacob G., Dratman M. (1967) Mammary Gland Dysplasia in Iodine Deficiency, JAMA, 200:115-119.

Ghent, W., Eskin, B., Low, D., Hill, L.(1993) Iodine Replacement in Fibrocystic Disease of the Breast, Can. J. Surg., 36:453-460.

Robbins J et al (1978) Thyroxine transport proteins of plasma: molecular properties and biosynthesis, Recent Prog Horm Res.