Friday, July 31, 2015

Carrying Out Iodine Skin Test

By Olive Pate


One of the major building blocks used by the thyroid in hormone production for use in metabolic processes is iodine. If it is not enough, several derangements happens hypothyroidism being one of them. Among the popular methods of testing for the deficiency is iodine skin test.

It theoretically measures how fast the iodin is absorbed into the body via the skin. It is not perfectly reliable because it does not give the levels of iodine concentration in the body as would a test carried out by the doctor. It just gives the speed of absorption. It cannot therefore used as a substitute to the usual laboratory tests.

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.

There are elements which associate to cause the fading of the iodine color from the skin surface. The solution is reduced to a compound known as iodide by the surface of skin. This resulting compound is white this is why there is fading. The rate at which the iodin evaporates is affected by atmospheric pressure and the temperatures. For more accurate results, loading test is the better alternative.

Thyroid dysfunction may be the cause of low levels. Iodin is required by the gland for several purposes including maintaining of a positive attitude mentally, providing energy, keeping the menstrual cycles ordered, muscle growth enhancement, weight control, stabilizing cholesterol levels, regulation of heartbeats and hormone balancing.

2/3 of the iodine in the body is stored in thyroid. One good way of boosting the levels is addition of seaweed to the diet. A tablespoon a day is enough. Fish and seafood are another alternative. The others include dairy products and eggs. Goitrogens are to be avoided because they interfere with iodine utilization. They include peanuts, kales, soy flour, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, kohlrabi and cabbage.

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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