Iodine: Your Top Questions

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You have questions? We have answers!

Our customer service team receives many questions about iodine, and we thought it would be beneficial to share those questions and answers with you. 

Here are some of the top questions and answers our customers have about iodine:

What is Lugol's Iodine? 

The French physician Jean Guillaume August Lugol developed Lugol’s Iodine Solution in 1829 initially as a cure for tuberculosis. Lugol’s solution is iodine and potassium iodide, combined with distilled water. It has been used in various medical applications and as a disinfectant.  By the 1920s, it became the standard preoperative treatment for patients with Graves’ disease and was used as a pretreatment to thyroid surgery. Today, Lugol’s Iodine Solution is still relevant in the medical community and is still commonplace for medical and supplementation purposes.

Which Lugol's Iodine should I buy?

Tennant Products has two iodine products: 

Dr. Tennant’s® Lugol’s Iodine Plus Capsules

Dr. Tennant’s® Lugol’s Iodine Liquid

Both the capsules and the liquid provide 12.5mg of iodine per serving (containing both potassium iodide and iodine).

The biggest difference between choosing the capsules over the liquid is that the capsules provide the co-factors that your body needs to utilize iodine.  The capsules contain additional supplements (zinc, selenium, vitamin B1, vitamin C, and fulvic acid) to better support the absorption of iodine.

However, Lugol’s Iodine Liquid provides the benefit of incremental dosing; providing the ability to increase or decrease the amount of iodine required for a specific dose. But since it does not contain the additional cofactors included in Dr. Tennant’s® Lugol’s Iodine Plus capsules, you should be sure to take it with Dr. Tennant's® Restore.

Can I just take Lugol’s Iodine Plus Capsules and Not Restore? 

Dr. Tennant’s® Lugol’s Iodine Plus Capsules can be taken without Restore, as they contain the appropriate levels of cofactors to help with proper iodine metabolization. However, Dr. Tennant recommends that Lugol’s Iodine Plus, Raw Materials, Digestive Enzymes and Restore as well as Neo40 (if over the age of 40) should be taken as a complete system for optimal cellular regeneration.

Do I Need Iodine in Addition to Restore?

Yes. Iodine is one of Dr. Tennant’s® Core Products and is recommended to be taken in addition to Dr. Tennant’s® Restore. Iodine plays a critical role in cellular development, but because of the unique nature of this element, iodine does not store well on the shelf with other products. Iodine can be taken with other food and supplements (excluding probiotics) and interacts well when ingested, but does not react well with other products when stored in the same canister over a long period of time. For this reason, iodine is stored and sold in a separate container.

Why is Iodine Important to Our Health?

“Iodine is found in each of the trillions of cells in the body. Without adequate iodine levels, life itself is not possible.”
—David Brownstein, M.D.

Iodine is responsible for the production of thyroid hormones and all other hormones of the body. Adequate iodine levels are required for proper immune system function. Iodine contains potent antibacterial, antiparasitic, antiviral and anticancer properties. 

We are all suffering from a plethora of illnesses all related to iodine deficiency including: cancer of the breast, thyroid, ovary, uterus, and prostate, as well as autoimmune thyroid illnesses, hypothyroidism, fibrocystic breast disease, ADHD, chronic fatigue, and fibromyalgia.  
[Iodine:  Why You Need It - Why You Can't Live Without It—David Brownstein, M.D.]

What are the symptoms of low Iodine?

iodine deficiency is extremely widespread, with an estimated 90% of the U.S. population and 72% of the global population being deficient in this essential mineral. Addressing iodine deficiency is crucial for supporting overall health and well-being. Below are some of the key signs of iodine deficiency: 

Read More About Signs & Symptoms of Iodine Deficiency

Understanding Lugol's Iodine (27 min Video)

Why are people deficient in Iodine? 

Iodine is a substance that the body requires to function, but cannot create. Therefore, it needs to be ingested. Most Americans do not have a diet that supports ingesting the amounts of iodine required for optimal cellular function.

Diets that may cause iodine deficiency: 

• Diets without ocean fish or sea vegetables
• Diets high in the consumption of bakery products (e.g. bread and pasta) which contain bromide*
• Vegan and Vegetarian diets

*Bromine is a halide (as is iodine, fluoride, and chloride). Halides compete with one another for absorption and receptor binding in the body. Bromine interferes with iodine utilization in the thyroid, as well as wherever else iodine would concentrate in the body. 

Iodine and Iodide: Does my body need both?

Different tissues in the body respond to different forms of iodine. The thyroid gland primarily utilizes iodide while breast tissue primarily utilizes iodine. Because different tissues concentrate on different forms of iodine, using a supplement that contains both iodide and iodine is preferable to using a supplement that contains only one form. 

Can I just get the Iodine I need from my salt shaker?

The amount of iodine in iodized salt is not sufficient for the body’s overall needs. There are 77 micrograms (μg) of iodine per gram of iodized salt. An individual’s average salt intake is five grams per day, which would be 385 μg per day of iodine. Urine tests show lower levels than this estimate, primarily because the iodine in iodized salt is only about 10% bioavailable. 

RDA recommendations for iodized salt are guidelines to prevent goiter, but are not enough to support glandular health and optimal cellular function.  Based on functional medicine research like Dr. Brownstein’s, many healthcare practitioners now use 12.5 mg daily as the current standard for adult supplementation. It is important to work with your practitioner to determine your unique needs. Iodine does have contraindications, especially for patients who may have developed autoimmune thyroid disease. Iodine testing is an important tool to help determine an individual’s ideal iodine level.

What role does Iodine play in cellular regeneration?

Every cell in the body contains and utilizes iodine. The thyroid gland contains a higher concentration of iodine than any other organ in the body. However, iodine is also concentrated throughout the glandular system of the body. 

When an adequate level of iodine is present in the body, hormone regulation, immune system function, and cellular regeneration are made possible. If an iodine deficiency is present, glandular tissue requiring the concentrated use of iodine takes iodine from neighboring cells creating a deficit in those cells. This deficit causes impaired cellular regeneration, hormone regulation, immune support, energy regulation, and autoimmune disorders at the cellular level.

Why can't I take Iodine at the same time as probiotics?

The anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties of iodine do their job well and can kill other microorganisms such as good fungi or bacteria. Probiotics are healthy bacteria that help with the process of digestion by managing the balance of bacteria in the digestive tract. Adding iodine to this process may reduce the effectiveness of the probiotic and as a result should be taken at different intervals. Iodine and probiotics should be taken no less than 2-3 hours apart.

Can Iodine be taken with medications?

Iodine is a natural substance the body requires to function, but is rarely achieved without supplementation. Iodine does react well with food, however when considering the use of iodine with medication, always consult with your healthcare practitioner for appropriate use and specific dosing. 

What time of day should I take Iodine? 

Iodine is usually taken in the morning. Some people have reported that taking iodine later in the day has kept them awake at night. 

Grab our Logul's Iodine User Guide Here:

Guide to Taking Dr. Tennant's® Lugol's Iodine Liquid & Capsules
[Free Download]

Is Iodine appropriate for children?

Please consult your pediatrician for appropriate use and specific dosing for children.