iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrllll do thlsdtcfdbhfenThe More Iodine, the Higher the Rates of Hashimoto’s
Iodine seems to have a dose-responsive effect. A Slovenian study followed
the rates of thyroid disorders after the amount of potassium iodide added
to the Slovenian salt supply was increased from 10 mg/kg of salt to 25
mg/kg in 1999. This increase resulted in a significant change in the in-
cidence of thyroid disorders. While there was a marked decline in the
incidence of iodine deficiency hypothyroidism, the rates of Hashimoto’s
more than doubled from the baseline after the increase.
Even Small Amounts of Iodine Can Worsen Hashimoto’s
In Germany, a low dose of potassium iodide (250 mcg), was given to
forty people who tested positive for anti-thyroid (TPO) antibodies or
had a thyroid ultrasound showing a hypoechogenic pattern consistent
with Hashimoto’s. A group of forty-three subjects with similar character-
istics served as a control group.
Nine patients from the iodine group developed thyroid abnormalities,
compared with only one person from the control group. Of the nine
patients in the iodine arm, seven developed subclinical hypothyroidism,
one became hypothyroid, and another hyperthyroid.
Changes were also seen in TPO antibody levels as well as on the thyroid
ultrasound. Three of the seven subclinical hypothyroid patients and the hy-
perthyroid patient regained normal thyroid function after iodine withdrawal.
Considering that iodine increases the rate of Hashimoto’s incidences—
and even small doses of iodine can lead to the progression of thyroid
abnormalities over a short period of time—it is no surprise that one in
five women will have a thyroid dysfunction at some time in her life in the
presence of iodized salt.
Also not surprising is the fact that today, 90–99 percent of hypothyroid-
ism cases in the United States are due to Hashimoto’s, while hypothy-
roidism cases due to iodine deficiency are rarely reported.
But I Thought Iodine Was Necessary for Hormone Production?
It is. The thyroid gland needs approximately 52 mcg of iodine daily to
produce thyroid hormones.
The United States RDA for iodine is 150 mcg for adults who are not
pregnant, 220 mcg for pregnant women, 290 mcg for lactating women,
and 90–120 mcg for children ages one to thirteen. An upper limit of
iodine intake has been set for 1,100 mcg.