Last modified on April 26th, 2024
Iodoral is a supplement for thyroid support. Idoral is available without a prescription through retailers like Amazon. It’s a top-rated iodine supplement, and we cover everything you should know before purchasing or using this product.
Key Takeaways
- Iodoral is a high-potency iodine and potassium supplement.
- Two strengths and sizes of Iodoral are available. There’s standard Iodoral 12.5 mg and then Iodoral IOD-50.
- Supplies elemental iodine comparable to the average daily intake in Japan.
- The thyroid gland requires iodine for proper functioning.
Comparable to Lugol’s solution, although Iodoral is easier to use and dosing is more precise.
What to Know About Iodoral
Iodoral is a leading iodine supplement that can help with thyroid dysfunction. Iodoral can also help reverse symptoms of iodine deficiency. Some of the symptoms Iodoral may help include fatigue, brain fog, hair loss and sleep disturbances. Always talk to your doctor before taking Iodoral.
What Is Iodoral?
Iodoral is an iodine support supplement to help the thyroid function properly. The goal of taking Iodoral is to help the thyroid produce the hormones that are needed for energy and metabolism. When you take Iodoral, benefits may include an improved sense of clarity as well.
Iodoral is considered a high-potency supplement that, in addition to iodine, also contains potassium.
It’s a tablet version of something called the Lugol solution.
The primary function of the essential element iodine is to help the thyroid function properly, but iodine also plays a role in many other functions of the body.
Iodine is a mineral found in the ocean, soil, and also foods that are plant-based and saltwater-based. The mineral can also be consumed if you use iodized salt.
Interestingly, the prevalence of iodine deficiency seems to be on the rise, and it may be because over the past 20 years, it was replaced in bread-making with bromine. Bromine can interfere with your iodine levels and can block thyroid function.
If your iodine levels are low, your doctor might recommend you take a supplement like Iodoral.
During the 1900s, something called Lugol solution was used in medicine to help both low thyroid and high thyroid activity. Lugol was mentioned in medical books until as recently as 1995.
Iodoral is also based on research of Japanese women who have been found to consume a daily average of 13.8 mg of elemental iodine each day in their diets. There’s some evidence that this iodine consumption could play a role in why Japanese people are generally so healthy.
What’s important to understand about iodine is that our bodies need it, but we can’t make it. Any iodine has to come from food or a supplement like Iodoral.
When you take iodine in supplement form, such as Iodoral 12.5 mg, you should look for an option that contains iodine as potassium iodide. It’s much easier to absorb potassium iodide almost completely.[1]
Many multivitamin supplements have iodine, as do many but not all prenatal vitamins.
Benefits of Iodine
To understand the benefits of taking a supplement like Iodoral, you have to understand the benefits of iodine on your health and wellness.
Thyroid Health
The biggest reason to use Iodoral is for thyroid health.
Your thyroid gland is located at the base of your neck, and it plays a vital role in regulating the production of your hormones. The hormones regulated by the thyroid control heart health, metabolism, energy levels, and mood.
When your thyroid produces hormones, it uses small amounts of iodine to do so.
If you don’t have iodine, your hormone product levels can decline. If you have an underactive thyroid, it can cause hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism more commonly affects women than men, and people over the age of 60, but anyone can be impacted.
Signs of hypothyroidism[2] can include:
- Depression
- Fatigue and low energy levels
- Constipation
- Feeling cold
- Weight gain
- Decreased sweating
- Slow heart rate
- Dry skin
- Dry, thin hair
- Memory impairment
- Changes in fertility or menstruation
- Hoarseness
- Puffy face
- Muscle aches and tenderness
Reducing Goiter Risk
A goiter is a term for an enlarged thyroid gland, which can occur because of both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism means your gland is overactive.
There are also cysts or non-cancerous thyroid nodules that can lead to enlargement of the thyroid gland.
There are instances of goiters developing directly in response to an iodine deficiency. In fact, iodine deficiency is the most common cause of goiter throughout the world.
For people with goiters, adding iodine to their diet or getting a supplement like Iodoral on Amazon may help reverse them.
Overactive Thyroid
We often talk about underactive thyroid issues, but if your thyroid is overactive, it can also be problematic.
Some doctors recommend a radioactive form of iodine to patients who have an overactive thyroid. This medication is called radioiodine.
Pregnancy
Iodine intake is important during pregnancy, and if you have concerns about your diet perhaps lacking in it, you should speak to your doctor who could advise you to take an Iodoral supplement or a similar iodine supplement.
Iodine is linked to fetal brain development. There was a review-style study that found babies whose mothers had an iodine deficiency during pregnancy were more likely to experience intellectual delays and grow up with lower IQs.[3] In non-pregnant adults, it’s recommended you get at least 150 mcg a day of iodine. During pregnancy, that recommendation goes up to 220 mcg per day.
Breastfeeding mothers should also make sure they continue to get enough iodine.
Cognitive Function
Children need iodine as they’re growing up to reduce the risk of intellectual disability as well. Most children get enough iodine in their diet, but if you aren’t sure or you have concerns, speak with your child’s pediatrician.
Fibrocystic Breast Disease
There is some evidence that iodine supplements like Iodoral 12.5 mg or Iodoral IOD-50 can help treat fibrocystic breast disease. Fibrocystic breast disease is a non-cancerous condition that can cause painful breast lumps.
Symptoms of Iodine Deficiency
To diagnose iodine deficiency, you would have to take a urine test. The most outwardly visible signs of an iodine deficiency are usually related to the thyroid. Symptoms of iodine deficiency can include:
- Visible goiters
- A tender or painful thyroid gland
- Problems breathing
- Swallowing difficulty
- Feelings of coldness
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Hair loss
- Brain fog
- Weight gain
Long-term iodine deficiency is linked to Hashimoto’s disease, Grave’s disease, ovarian cysts, breast cancer, prostate cancer, ADHD, and low thyroid.
What to Know About Using Iodoral
As has been touched on, Iodoral is one of the leading iodine supplements. Iodoral is available in two doses. There’s Iodoral 12.5 and there’s Iodoral 50. Iodoral 12.5 and the 50 mg dose are both available on Amazon.
When you take Iodoral, ideally, you should aim to also take 500 mg of vitamin C with each dose.
Be aware that certain chemicals can interfere with iodine absorption, so try to take them at a different time. These include fluoride, which is in our drinking water and toothpaste, as well as bromide. Bromide is found in certain grain-based foods, water, and pools and hot tubs.
When you first start taking this iodine supplement, it’s best to begin with Iodoral 12.5, and then if you need to, move up to 50 mg. You should only take Iodoral after having your iodine levels checked and speaking with your health care provider.
For many people, when they first start taking Iodoral, their TSH may go up rapidly for several months, while their free T3/T4 will remain within the normal range. This is considered a normal response to taking Iodoral, and then when your thyroid gland is saturated, your TSH should go to a normal level.[4]
There are stronger forms of iodine available by prescription if needed, but those are rarely used outside of very serious health conditions.
The suggested amount of Iodoral 12.5 mg is anywhere from one to four tablets a day, as advised by your doctor. Depending on your doctor’s advice, you might start on the very low end with only one-half an Iodoral 12.5 mg tablet. Then you might, based on your doctor’s advice, gradually increase your dosage depending on how your symptoms are responding.
Longer-term signs that Iodoral is working for you can include lower TSH and higher T3 and T4, but again, this may not happen right away, and your TSH numbers may spike when you start taking Iodoral before they go lower.[5]
Are There Any Iodoral Side Effects to be Aware of?
If you follow your health care provider’s instructions you should have any serious Iodoral side effects, but of course, with any supplement, there is always a potential for adverse effects.
Some of the possible Iodoral side effects to be aware of are:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Metallic taste in the mouth
- Headache
- Acne
- Runny nose
The reason it’s so important to work with a doctor on issues related to iodine deficiency and before taking Iodoral 12.5 mg or the 50 mg version is because of the effects of both too much and too little iodine on thyroid health.
If you take too much iodine, you can have symptoms similar to iodine deficiency, including thyroid dysfunction. Too much iodine can also potentially lead to thyroid papillary cancer or thyroiditis.
Iodine poisoning can occur at very high levels. Symptoms of iodine poisoning include:
- Burning of the mouth and throat
- Vomiting
- Weak pulse
- Fever
- Coma
Iodine supplements like Iodoral can also have negative interactions with some drugs.
For example, if you take a hyperthyroid medication, you should know that additional iodine can cause hypothyroidism. If you take an ACE inhibitor, potassium iodine supplements can increase the risk of high blood levels of potassium, known as hyperkalemia.
If you take certain diuretics, Iodoral might interact with them, causing hyperkalemia.
Blood thinners’ effectiveness may be diminished if you use an iodine supplement, and if you take amiodarone, you should likely avoid iodine supplements.[6]
Iodoral Reviews
Iodoral has excellent reviews, which is one of the reasons we wanted to cover this product in-depth. It’s one of the leading iodine supplements.
Users say that they wish they’d tried it sooner.
According to reviews of Iodoral, it helps with sleep and fibroids. Reviews say it helps improve energy levels and mood, and many people say they’re in shock with how much better they feel using it.
Iodoral FAQs
The following are some of the Iodoral frequently asked questions.
What Is Iodoral?
Iodoral is an iodine supplement. It’s available over-the-counter and is available in two strengths. There is Iodoral 12.5 mg and Iodoral 50 mg. Iodoral can help rectify an iodine deficiency and may improve thyroid health.
The formulation of Iodoral is based on the average daily intake of iodine by Japanese women, which the creators feel represents an optimal amount of the nutrient for good health.
What Is Iodoral Used For?
Iodoral is used as an iodine supplement. Primarily, an iodine supplement like Iodoral might help with symptoms of thyroid dysfunction. Iodine is also important during pregnancy for prenatal health.
Where Can You Buy Iodoral?
What many people don’t realize is that Iodoral is on Amazon. It’s not a prescription medication and instead sold as a supplement. With that being said, the balance between too little and too much iodine is delicate. It’s important to work with a qualified health care provider before taking Iodoral.
Summing Up
Iodine deficiency is a global issue, and it can lead to serious health complications such as thyroid dysfunction. Iodoral is a quality iodine supplement with excellent reviews that may help reverse iodine deficiency. Before using Iodoral, however, you should consult with your health care provider.
[1] https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/
[2] https://www.healthline.com/health/hypothyroidism/symptoms-treatments-more#causes
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26268911/
[4] https://www.biobalancehealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IODORAL-PATIENT-HANDOUT-FINAL-PDF.pdf
[5] https://www.livestrong.com/article/507067-how-to-know-if-iodoral-supplement-is-working/
[6] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/288471
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