Iodine is required to produce thyroid hormones T3 and T4. Without enough iodine, the body’s ability to regulate metabolism and maintain normal cortisol levels is reduced.
Evidence from Studies
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This study gave pregnant women extra iodine to see if it helped their thyroid, but instead, their thyroid hormone levels went down a little — the opposite of what you'd expect. So it doesn't support the idea that iodine always fixes thyroid problems.
Effects of iodine supplementation on thyroid function in children with mild congenital hypothyroidism and non-autoimmune subclinical hypothyroidism
Giving extra iodine to these kids didn't help their thyroid work better — it actually made a key hormone (TSH) go up, meaning their thyroid was struggling more. It also didn't fix their hormone levels or affect cortisol at all.
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