Lack of iodine consumption connects to diagnosis of Hypothyroidism
Editor's Note: The following is part of a class project originally initiated in the classroom of Ball State University professor Adam Kuban in fall 2021. Kuban continued the project the 2023 spring semester, challenging his students to find sustainability efforts in the Muncie area and pitch their ideas to Deanna Watson, editor of The Star Press, Journal & Courier and Pal-Item. This spring, stories related to health care will be featured.
MUNCIE, Ind. — Iodine is a trace element that is naturally present in many foods and is present in some types of salts. Iodine is essential to the body for regulating the thyroid gland.
When the body does not get enough iodine to regulate the correct hormones in the body, the person will become iodine deficient, and ultimately this can lead to Hypothyroidism or thyroid cancer.
The thyroid gland produces hormones to regulate the body’s metabolic rate, growth and development. It plays a major role in controlling the heart and muscles, digestive system, bone maintenance and brain function. To correctly function, there must be iodine in the body’s diet.
Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, is when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones that the human body needs to function properly. If Hypothyroidism is not treated properly, it can lead to other problems such as thyroid cancer.
According to an article published by Very Well Health, one in 300 people in the United States are diagnosed with an underactive thyroid. It is mostly prevalent in women and people who are over the age of 65.
Women are mostly affected by Hypothyroidism because of the hormones that fluctuate between the menstrual cycle and the hormones that the thyroid produce. The menstrual cycle is very reliant on the hormones produced by the thyroid.
Women who are pregnant need iodine in their system for the fetus to grow properly. During the first few stages of growing, the fetus is completely reliant on the hormones produced by the thyroid.
According to an article from Johns Hopkins Medicine, after childbirth, the hormones in the body are all over the place, and it takes time for them to get back to normal. Many women suffer from postpartum thyroiditis, which is thyroid illness after childbirth. Ultimately this can eventually lead to hypothyroidism.
A woman from Muncie, Indiana, who wishes to remain anonymous, suffered from Hypothyroidism after giving birth to her second child.
“After I had my second child, I noticed something was wrong with my body. I was constantly tired and had no energy. I decided to do some research and came across Hypothyroidism. I went to the doctor, and they soon diagnosed me with exactly that. I wondered if this maybe had to do with my iodine intakes and what they put in food nowadays,” she explained.
There are certain foods that do contain more iodine than others that can help reduce the risk of Hypothyroidism and reverse some of the negative effects.
According to an article published by Healthline, studies show that certain dietary interventions can have benefits for people who suffer from hypothyroidism. People who do not use iodized salt, pregnant women, and people who follow a vegan diet are more at risk for developing low iodine levels.
According to an article published by Harvard T.H Chan- School of Public Health, iodine is mostly found in foods such as animal-protein foods, sea vegetables, dairy and eggs. Someone who is diagnosed with Hypothyroidism should supplement with iodine but should also not consume excessive amounts of iodine because it may become harmful.
With a Hypothyroidism diagnosis, a person may have to take medication called Levothyroxine or iodine supplements, which will help the non-working thyroid produce the right hormones.
Gia Cipriani, a pharmacist since 1995 in Palos Heights, Illinois, explained what levothyroxine is.
“Levothyroxine is a medication that controls and regulates the T4 and T3 levels of your thyroid. The brand name is Synthroid, and the generic name is Levothyroxine. This medication should be taken on an empty stomach and an hour before eating first thing in the morning to work best,” said Cipriani.
Dr. Mohammed Kazi, an endocrinologist in Merrionette Park, Illinois, explained why taking Levothyroxine or iodine supplements when diagnosed with Hypothyroidism is very important.
“These medications are crucial for someone diagnosed with Hypothyroidism because with an underactive thyroid a person’s body is not getting the hormones someone with an active thyroid is getting. Depending on how a person’s hormones function every person’s prescription will be different,” said Kazi.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Lack of iodine consumption connects to diagnosis of Hypothyroidism
