Did you know that IV therapy in Toronto is an option for relieving mineral deficiencies?

Iodine is one of the significant trace minerals in the world that the body needs for ideal nutrition. But unfortunately, some countries have problems accessing iodine due to soil quality: “…iodine cycling in many regions is slow and incomplete, leaving soils and drinking water iodine depleted. Crops grown in these soils will be low in iodine, and humans and animals consuming food grown in these soils become iodine deficient,” explains an Endocrine Reviews article.

Considering the amounts of processed foods in North America, it’s logical why some of the western population still suffers from an iodine deficiency. In fact, “The native iodine content of most foods and beverages is low,” the Endocrine Reviews article goes on to explain.

Forming a goiter (in other words, an enlarged thyroid) is one symptom of an iodine deficiency. Regions in the 1920s, such as Ontario and the upper Midwest and Great Lakes, were coined the “goiter belt region” because close to 40% of their populations experienced goiters. Since Canadian soil was iodine deficient, iodine was added to table salt in 1949. By 1993, salt iodization was adopted across the globe to reduce iodine deficiency. Nevertheless, some Toronto IV therapy patients must continue to address an iodine deficiency because they were impacted by dietary transitions in the goiter belt region.

Treating this deficiency is crucial, as the body uses iodine for thyroid function and metabolism. So what are the positive effects of iodine? Read on for more information and how to treat an iodine deficiency with vitamin treatments.

Iodine Information for IV Toronto Patients

• Beneficial effects of iodine include:
  • Lowers the risk of goiter.
  • Regulates the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones are needed to control metabolism.
  • Promotes bone and brain health and development in the fetus during pregnancy.
  • Promotes cognition and brain function during early childhood.

• Not getting enough iodine can lead to thyroid conditions such as hypothyroidism, when your thyroid is underactive and doesn’t produce optimal levels of thyroid hormones. But when your body consumes excessive iodine levels, this can trigger hyperthyroidism (when your thyroid is overactive).

• If you’re in the midst of family planning in Toronto, consider your nutrient levels. The American Thyroid Association suggests women have an iodine supplement roughly three months before getting pregnant.

• Breastfeeding mothers also need to pay attention to iodine intake and other essential vitamins and minerals, as these are passed onto the baby via breast milk.
• Iodine deficiency symptoms include: noticeable goiters, achy thyroid gland, fatigue, issues with swallowing, brain fog, depression, hair loss, and other symptoms.

How to Test for and Treat an Iodine Deficiency

Naturopathic doctors agree that iodine is compulsory for optimal functioning. So they recommend getting lab tests to see if you’re deficient in iodine and other key vitamins. For example, our Toronto IV Lounge offers IV therapy for iron deficiency . At our integrative medicine clinic, we can conduct functional medicine lab tests; in particular, blood tests at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre can assist with diagnosing an iodine deficiency. An iron deficiency may also be diagnosed with our functional urine iodine test. The patient must ingest oral iodine, and then urine is collected and measured for iodine.

We also suggest a complete thyroid panel to measure thyroid hormones. This test also provides insight on thyroid antibodies, such as TSH, free T3, free T4, reverse T3, TPO and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, which can assist with diagnosing thyroid disorders. A thyroid panel may be recommended when you have symptoms of hyper- or hypothyroidism, or when it’s suspected that hormone imbalances are triggering thyroid hormone dysfunction. (Note: thyroid hormones can interact with high or low cortisol levels, high estrogen levels and low DHEA levels, which is why a thyroid panel may also be suggested.)

An iodine deficiency is treatable with various vitamin therapies. First, eat beneficial ingredients like iodine-rich foods, including fish, shellfish, iodized salt, seaweed, eggs and yogurt. Iodine supplements are frequently available as oral vitamins in either sodium iodide or potassium iodide formulations; iodine is also available in multivitamins.

Another treatment to consider is IV therapy (intravenous therapy or IV vitamin drip therapy), which inserts an IV drip with therapeutic doses of vitamins and minerals into the blood vessels. This treatment has the potential to correct deficiencies and encourages speedy nutrient absorption, without the infusion solution entering the digestive tract. It’s an attractive therapy for some patients, as it prevents unwanted side effects from oral vitamins (i.e. diarrhea from magnesium tablets).

TAKE NOTE: Your family doctor or naturopath should be consulted before trying any of these treatments. This is because iodine supplements aren’t always recommended for patients with thyroid conditions. Excessive levels of iodine can also lead to medication interactions, goiters, vomiting, and nausea – so please speak to your health practitioner about customizing iodine dosages.

Boosting Iodine Levels at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre

Overall, there are beneficial effects to supplementing with iodine. How can you improve your energy levels, immune function and cellular functioning? We invite you to consider our integrative approach to patient care. Let’s help you take control of your health today.

At the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre, we cater to individual wellness issues using integrative medicine. Our treatments are devised for numerous conditions: chronic fatigue syndrome, infertility, athletic recovery, tissue repair, DNA repair, adrenal fatigue (adrenal function), skin rejuvenation and mineral deficiencies such as iodine.

Practicing functional medicine, naturopathy, allopathic medicine and other modalities, our treatments consist of an assortment of nutrient IV drip treatments: high-dose vitamin C (ascorbic acid), additional b-vitamins, folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin D, amino acids, and other vitamin drip treatments.

Are you interested in receiving IV therapy in Toronto? Let’s stretch towards optimal health today. Send us a message to visit our clinic – click here to begin.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.

References:

Abraham, Guy E. et al. “Orthoiodosupplementation: Iodine sufficiency of the whole human body.” (2007).

“Health Benefits of Iodine” by Nourish by WebMD, viewed on Dec. 16, 2021. 

“Iodine” by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), updated March 29, 2021, viewed on December 8, 2021.

“Iodine Deficiency” by the American Thyroid Association, viewed on Dec. 16, 2021.

Michael B. Zimmermann, Iodine Deficiency, Endocrine Reviews, Volume 30, Issue 4, 1 June 2009, Pages 376–408, https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2009-0011

“Micronutrient Facts” by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, reviewed June 28, 2021, viewed on December 3, 2021.

Markel H. ‘‘When it rains it pours’’: endemic goiter, iodized salt, and David Murray Cowie, MD. Am J Public Health. 1987;77: 219-229.

Meletis, C. D. (2011). Iodine: Health Implications of Deficiency. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 190–194. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587211414424

Santiago-Fernandez P, Torres-Barahona R, Muela-Martinez JA, et al. Intelligence quotient and iodine intake: a cross-sectional study in children. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004;89:3851-3857.