Hypothyroidism: Should I take iodine supplements?

Answer Section

It's best not to take iodine supplements unless your healthcare professional tells you to do so.

Iodine is a mineral in some foods. It helps the thyroid gland make important hormones. If the thyroid doesn't make enough hormones, that's called hypothyroidism.

It's true that having too little iodine in the body can cause hypothyroidism. But the condition can have other causes. If a lack of iodine isn't the reason that you have hypothyroidism, then taking iodine supplements won't help you. In fact, getting too much iodine from supplements could cause hypothyroidism or make it worse.

What's more, it's rare to have low levels of iodine in the United States and many other developed countries. That's because iodine is added to foods such as salt. This is called iodized salt. So, iodine pills and other supplements high in iodine such as kelp tablets usually aren't needed.

If you have hypothyroidism, you can treat it safely and effectively with medicine called levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl, others). This a lab-made version of thyroid hormone.