Testing For Iodin Levels Using Iodine Skin Test

By Olive Pate


Iodine is an important building block that thyroid makes use of to produce the necessary hormones of metabolism. The processes of metabolism cannot take place without enough iodin in the body and the individual will suffer from hypothyroidism. The iodine skin test is one way of testing for deficiencies of iodine.

This test determines how quickly iodin is absorbed inside the body through skin. It is not one hundred percent reliable due to the fact that it does not give a broad view of the levels of iodin as a test conducted by the doctor could. It just provides information on how fast it gets absorbed. This should not be taken as an auxiliary to the clinically done tests to measure its levels. There is no available data to support its reliability in measuring the levels of iodin.

It is done using a solution of iodine of tincture. The normal color of the solution is yellow. A three by three inch patch of skin is painted with the solution. The preferred sites are the abdomen, inner forearm or the inner thigh. It should be allowed to dry completely before you touch anything as staining can happen. The spot is observed for the following 24 hours for changes in the color.

What is emphasized in the test is the duration taken for the entire patch to vanish. If it is still there twenty four hours later, then the results are just normal. However, if it takes a less time than that to disappear, then this means there is a deficiency in absorption. To note is that if the disappearance or lightening is significant in duration less than 18 hours, the deficiency can be moderate or severe and this may be a cause for supplementation of iodin.

Several factors interact together to cause the color disappearance. Iodide is the component which results when iodin is reduced by the human skin. It is white and that is why the original color disappears. Evaporation is affected by the room temperatures and also the atmospheric pressure. Loading test is a better choice when reliability and validity of the results is desired.

Thyroid conditions may result to low iodin levels. The importance of the element is that is helps the gland to regulate heartbeats, maintain weight, stabilize cholesterol, balance hormones, enhance the growth of the muscles, keep regular menstrual cycles, provide energy and maintain positive perceptual attitude.

Thyroid gland stores two thirds the total iodin found in the body. Taking seaweed vegetable is among the best ways of boosting the levels of iodine. A spoonful of the seaweed daily is enough to take the levels back to normal. Fish and any seafood incorporation in diet can go a long way in helping. Dairy products or even eggs can be another alternative. There is a group of foods known as Goitrogens which hinder how iodin is utilized in the body. The food types in this category include turnips, kales, kohlrabi, cabbage, broccoli, peanuts, cauliflower, soy flour and Brussels sprouts.

Copper, zinc, iodine, selenium and tyrosine are the minerals needed to reactivate thyroid gland. Make sure to include foods rich in these nutrients in your nutrition. For those suffering from Hashimotos Thyroiditis, iodine supplementation should be avoided unless advised otherwise by your doctor.




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