Iodine & Hormones
Iodine is essential for every cell in our body. It supports the thermoregulation of the body, the immune system, our circadian rhythm, it’s essential for cognitive function, skin complexion, digestive health as well as the absorbability of nutrients. However, Iodine has an especially important role in supporting our glandular health, like our pituitary, prostate, breasts, ovaries, uterus, thyroid, and adrenals. There is a higher affinity of iodine-based receptors in our glandular organs and its used to help make every hormone in the body. This is why it is essential for fertility and a deficiency is linked to higher rates of infertility and recurrent miscarriages.
Iodine is beneficial to the makeup of glandular tissues and when there is a deficiency, this leads to a breakdown of that tissue. This breakdown can cause excess tissue fluid that leads to the formation of cysts, fibroids, and nodules which leads to higher susceptibility for cancer.
Since women have a higher glandular system than that of men, women are more iodine dependent, and this is often why we see higher rates of thyroid conditions and glandular cancers like ovarian and breast cancer.
For men, low iodine is linked to low testosterone production and higher rates of hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism causes lower GnRH (Gonadotropin hormone), which lowers LH (luteinizing hormone) release from the pituitary gland and impacts testosterone production.
Iodine + Thyroid
Iodine has a very high affinity to the thyroid and plays a major role in the regulation thyroid function. Without iodine, we can’t manufacture T4 (inactive thyroid hormone) and T3 (active thyroid hormone). They are both made of iodine molecules. The conversion of T4 to T3 occurs in the liver which also requires sufficient iodine levels.
So let’s break it down further. When the body needs to make thyroid hormone, the hypothalamus will alert our pituitary gland to make TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone). So the body will take up iodine from the gut (from the foods we eat) and move it to our thyroid cells via these transporters called iodine transport molecules (NIS). TSH tells the thyroid that we need more thyroid hormone where T4 is made and eventually it will get converted into T3 which is what will get used for our thyroid, sex hormone production, and support the metabolic pace of the body.
Iodine is necessary for NIS function, the transporters of iodine. The more iodine we have available, the more of those transport molecules we’re going to make which will help us use iodine by the thyroid more efficiently. This will raise your TSH levels which is a good thing and is common when you supplement with iodine. However, we don’t want to simply dive into supplementation without understanding current levels and mineral cofactors like selenium and copper. The more sufficient iodine levels, the greater the efficiency for conversion of thyroid hormone in our liver as well!
So in a nutshell, having sufficient iodine reserves is essential for making thyroid hormone, converting thyroid hormone, thyroid hormone utility, and how well we can actually absorb it from the foods we eat!
How to assess a potential Iodine Deficiency through an HTMA
The nutritional status, state of stress, level of dysregulation, and heavy metal status shown through a HTMA (hair tissue mineral analysis) can help us identify if there is a potential iodine deficiency and if specific iodine testing (urinary or patch test) could be necessary for one’s healing journey.
The markers I use to evaluate low iodine on client’s HTMA include:
● Potassium <4
● Calcium >70
● Copper >2.5 or <1.5
● Thyroid Ratio (Ca/K) >10.1
● Selenium <.08
● Mercury >.02
The nutrients like selenium and copper are essential cofactors for iodine use in the body. Having higher levels of mercury will deplete selenium and copper, interrupting that iodine utility. Calcium and potassium are essential for thyroid function and insulin sensitivity, both of which are dependent on iodine.
So when we have 4+ “Yeses”, it’s a sign our bodies could use some iodine support. Again, we want to focus on food resources, building a mineral foundation, and taking lifestyle measures to reduce overall metabolic stress to support thyroid health and iodine status.
To learn more about ways to integrate Iodine through food, check out “Benefits of Iodine” blog post!