Hi, Susan!
Although we need iodine in our diet, getting too much of a good thing is dangerous for Graves’ patients. Iron can also present problems for people taking thyroid hormone replacements. It’s my understanding that iron could bind up some of the thyroid hormone in the digestive tract, causing it to be eliminated from the body before it has been absorbed into the blood. Once the hormone has been absorbed, iron doesn’t make a difference. So, the easiest way to avoid any problems concerning excess iodine or iron is to take the thyroid hormone replacement on an empty stomach an hour or so before we eat anything else and to take our vitamins several hours after we have taken our meds. Personally, I’ve gotten on to the schedule of taking my meds in the morning and my vitamins at night.
Wishing you good health and happiness,
Debby
OLAF, NGDF
