Hi, I am glad you plan to check with your endo. Good plan. And also check about the supplements as you plan to do.
But I am compelled to wonder why the new family doc prescribed 1000mcg/day. I am led to wonder if you should really question if you should be going to her. Seems that endocrinology is not her strong suit. She might be fine for other stuff.
I am providing for you, the following information straight from the NIH (National Institutes of Health) website. The normal amount for adult females is 150mcg We get our iodine from dairy, cheese, meat and iodized salt. To me it sounds very concerning for you to take almost seven times what is required and recommended. Again, I am very glad you are going to check this out with your endo.
And yes, when we are super hyper, there are a VERY FEW foods that have high concentrations of iodine, which is better to avoid when we are hyper. Some fish, kelp should not be eaten in large quantities.
Here’s the reference:
Table 1 lists the current RDAs for iodine [2]. For infants from birth to 12 months, the FNB established an AI for iodine that is equivalent to the mean intake of iodine in healthy, breastfed infants in the United States.
Table 1: Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for Iodine [2]
Age Male Female Pregnancy Lactation
Birth to 6 months 110 mcg* 110 mcg*
7–12 months 130 mcg* 130 mcg*
1–3 years 90 mcg 90 mcg
4–8 years 90 mcg 90 mcg
9–13 years 120 mcg 120 mcg
14–18 years 150 mcg 150 mcg 220 mcg 290 mcg
19+ years 150 mcg 150 mcg 220 mcg 290 mcg
* Adequate Intake (AI)
The World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD) recommend a slightly higher iodine intake for pregnant women of 250 mcg per day [3,7].
Sources of Iodine
Food
Seaweed (such as kelp, nori, kombu, and wakame) is one of the best food sources of iodine, but it is highly variable in its content (Table 2) [5]. Other good sources include seafood, dairy products (partly due to the use of iodine feed supplements and iodophor sanitizing agents in the dairy industry [8]), grain products, and eggs. Dairy products, especially milk, and grain products are the major contributors of iodine to the American diet [9]. Iodine is also present in human breast milk [2,5] and infant formulas.
Regarding selenium, there are A FEW studies that taking a small dose of selenium might decrease the symptoms and severity of TED (thyroid eye disease.) But not Graves’.
I am wondering how you yourself feel? Do you have the symptoms of feeling hypo? If so, I think you will begin to feel better (if you are feeling hypo.)
Shirley, just another patient, not a doctor (:
