An essential component of the thyroid hormones T4 and T3. Iodine is an essential nutrient, commonly found in dairy products, seafood, iodized salt, and grains. Severe iodine deficiency compromises thyroid hormone production and leads to serious diseases including irreversible cretinism, pregnancy complications, goiter, and decreased cognitive function. Mild to moderate iodine insufficiency can lead to thyroid deficiency. Excessive iodine intake, paradoxically, can also lead to thyroid deficiency. Iodine deficiency has also been associated with breast cancer. Since over 90% of dietary iodine is eliminated in urine, adequacy of recent iodine intake can be accurately assessed with dried urine testing.
Iodine Deficiency: A Global Health Concern
Iodine deficiency affects nearly 2 billion people worldwide. In the United States, urinary iodine levels have decreased by half since the 1970s, with around 10% of the population exhibiting some degree of deficiency. This resurgence in developed nations, including the U.S. and Western Europe, is largely attributed to the reduced consumption of iodine-rich foods such as eggs, dairy, and iodine-fortified salt, as part of dietary efforts to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
The Importance of Adequate Iodine Across Life Stages
Iodine is essential for thyroid hormone production, which plays a critical role in neurological development, particularly during pregnancy. In regions with severe iodine deficiency, pregnant women are at increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirths, or giving birth to children with cretinism and severe developmental disabilities. Even in areas with mild to moderate iodine deficiency, including parts of the U.S., children born to iodine-deficient mothers may experience impaired intellectual development and are at increased risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
For both children and adults, insufficient iodine intake leads to reduced thyroid hormone synthesis, resulting in hypothyroidism. Low iodine levels prompt the brain to produce more thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which can lead to an overgrowth of the thyroid (goiter). This condition is more prevalent in regions with consistently low iodine levels.
Potential Issues with Excess Iodine
While iodine deficiency is a common concern, excessive iodine intake can also disrupt thyroid function. High iodine levels from foods like seaweed or iodine supplements can lead to goiter, hyperthyroidism, or hypothyroidism. The elderly, especially those who have lived in low-iodine environments, are particularly susceptible to developing hyperthyroidism when exposed to a sudden increase in iodine. In some cases, acute iodine exposure can paradoxically suppress thyroid hormone synthesis, a phenomenon known as the Wolff-Chaikoff effect. While most individuals recover within a couple of days, those with underlying thyroid issues, such as subclinical hypothyroidism or autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s, may require long-term treatment for hypothyroidism.
Recommended Iodine Intake for Optimal Thyroid Function
To maintain optimal thyroid function, it is crucial to consume adequate iodine. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend a daily iodine intake of 150 µg for non-pregnant adults, with an upper limit of 1,100 µg. In countries like Japan, where iodine consumption is much higher due to seaweed intake, the recommended upper limit is set at 3,000 µg.
Iodine’s Role Beyond the Thyroid
Although iodine’s role in thyroid function is well-known, it also plays a crucial role in other bodily tissues. It acts as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-carcinogen. Many tissues, including the salivary glands, pancreas, skin, mammary glands, uterus, and ovaries, utilize iodine. One of iodine’s unique properties is its ability to protect tissues from oxidative stress by interacting with unsaturated fatty acids and forming protective compounds. These iodinated lipids help prevent benign growths, such as fibrocystic breast disease and uterine fibroids, and may reduce the risk of cancer in iodine-concentrating tissues.
Iodine’s Antimicrobial and Protective Properties
Iodine has long been recognized for its antimicrobial properties. It concentrates in tissues exposed to infectious agents, such as the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and salivary glands, helping to protect against infections. Additionally, iodine’s ability to inhibit the proliferation of abnormal cells through its interaction with PPAR receptors highlights its potential as an anticancer agent, particularly in breast tissue and other hormone-sensitive areas.
Iodine Sufficiency: Varying Requirements Across Tissues
While the recommended daily iodine intake for thyroid health is between 150-300 µg, studies suggest that higher iodine levels may be necessary for optimal health in other tissues. For example, research indicates that iodine levels in the range of 3,000-6,000 µg daily may be required to protect against fibrocystic breast disease and other conditions. This intake level is consistent with that of countries like Japan, where breast cancer rates are significantly lower than in the U.S.
Keeping track of your medical data and laboratory results while understanding what they mean empowers positive health outcomes.
Keeping track of your medical data and lab results while understanding what they mean empowers positive health outcomes.
Save 10% off any plan with promo-code:
HEALTH10
Sign up
Sign up now and create your account. Use code HEALTH10 for a 10% discount on any plan. Don't miss out!
Organize
Bring all results from any laboratories to your account. You can enter your tests yourself, or we'll be happy to organize your files—whether in PDF, JPEG, CSV, or even screenshots.
Learn and improve
Once your information is stored in your account, dive into a wealth of insights about your results. If you have any more questions, we are here to answer them.
A low iodine level on a Urinary Toxic & Essential Elements test by ZRT Laboratories typically indicates iodine deficiency, which can have significant implications for thyroid function and overall health. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the possible diagnosis, symptoms, and potential treatment options:
Diagnosis
Symptoms of Iodine Deficiency
Thyroid-related symptoms:
Pregnancy-related issues:
In Children:
Other General Symptoms:
Potential Treatment Options
Dietary Adjustments:
Iodine Supplementation:
Thyroid Hormone Replacement:
Prenatal Supplements:
Addressing Underlying Health Conditions:
Monitoring
Guiding our user for 10 years to promptly understand, track, and act on their laboratory results.
$15/month
for personal lab results
Cancel your subscription at any time.
$250/once
full premium version
$45/month
track your clients’ labs
Cancel your subscription at any time.
Guiding our user for 10 years to promptly understand, track, and act on their laboratory results.
Personal plans
track personal results
Professional Plan
track multiple client's results
$15/month
for personal lab results
$250/once
own it for life
$45/month
for health professionals
Complete Plan
Unlimited Plan
$15 per month
$250 full version
Are you a health professional?
Level up your lab report analysis with our Pro plan, built for health practitioners like you.
Health Business Account
$45/month
Cancel your subscription at any time.
Unlock additional Pro plans when you sign up.
Unlock Your Health Journey with Healthmatters.io! Ever wished for a one-stop digital health haven for all your lab tests? Look no further! Healthmatters.io is your personalized health dashboard, bringing together test reports from any lab. Say goodbye to scattered results—organize and centralize your lab data effortlessly. Dive into the details of each biomarker and gain insights into the meaning behind your medical test data.
Join the community of thousands who've transformed the way they understand their lab results. Experience the joy of having all your lab data neatly organized, regardless of where or when the tests were done.
For our professional users, Healthmatters.io is a game-changer. Revel in the intuitive tools that not only streamline analysis but also save valuable time when delving into your client's lab report history. It's not just a dashboard; it's your gateway to a smarter, more informed health journey!
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
While we do talk about popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too. It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters. We can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.
Still on the hunt for a specific biomarker? Just tell us, and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account!
There are two ways to add your test reports to your healthmatters.io account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."
Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.
For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you. We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.
Our special data entry service makes it easy to add your results to your private dashboard. Just attach an image or a file of your lab test results, and our skilled data entry team will do the work for you. It's all done by humans, ensuring that your data is entered accurately and with personal care for each client.
Depending on your account, the data entry service can be included for free or come at an additional cost of $15 per report.
For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.
Unlimited account holders enjoy the entry of ten reports without charge. Subsequent reports are subject to a $15 fee per report.
Additionally, users on the Complete plan can upgrade to a yearly subscription from the account settings. The annual subscription includes a data entry service for five reports.
The Unlimited plan is a one-time purchase for $250, and it covers your account for a lifetime with no additional payments.
For the Complete plan, the cost is $15 per month. You have the flexibility to cancel it anytime through your account settings, ensuring no further payments. To avoid charges, remember to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. Once canceled, the subscription remains active until the end of the current billing cycle.
Additionally, you can upgrade to the yearly Advanced plan from within your account. The annual cost is $79, and it comes with a data entry service for five reports.
You can always upgrade to a lifetime version with a prorated price from a monthly or yearly subscription.
Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.
Unlocking the insights from your lab tests has never been this intuitive! We've crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into a treasure trove of testing data.
1. Graph View:Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.
2. All Tests ViewGet a quick grasp of your test reports in minutes! Explore neatly organized reports on a timeline, highlighting crucial details like dates, critical results, and lab/panel names. Each report opens up to reveal in-depth descriptions and additional recommendations for each biomarker. The history of previous results is just a click away, and you can download a comprehensive report for deeper insights. Color-coded and user-friendly, it's designed for easy reading, understanding, and navigation.
3. Table View:For a holistic view of all biomarkers side by side, our table view is your go-to. Results are neatly displayed in a categorized and dated table, ideal for those with an extensive test history. Utilize sorting, filters, and color-coding to enhance your analysis and gain extra insights.
Experience the power of clear, organized data visualization with Healthmatters.io — your key to understanding and taking charge of your health journey!
Yes, you can download information from your account. We can compile your labs into a CSV file. To download all your labs, you can go to Account Settings, and at the bottom of the page, you will find a link to download your information.
Yes, you can print your report. To do so, navigate to "All tests" and open the report you wish to print. You'll find a print button in the right corner of the report. Click on it, and your browser's print window will open. If you prefer to print in a bigger typeface, adjust the scale using the print window settings.
A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.
The professional or business account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.
To learn more about Healthmatters Pro, please refer to the professional page.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
