Iodine (Urinary)
What This Test Measures
Thyroid hormone production, breast health
Conventional vs. Functional Optimal Range
The gap between these ranges is why you feel terrible with "normal" labs. Conventional medicine waits for disease. Functional medicine optimizes for health.
Gabriel's Take
Iodine deficiency is common (iodized salt avoidance, low seafood). Low iodine = hypothyroid symptoms, goiter, fibrocystic breasts. Urinary iodine <100 = deficiency. Optimal 150-200 μg/L. Caution: high-dose iodine can trigger Hashimoto's flares in susceptible people. Test before supplementing.
When This Test Is High
Excess supplementation, thyroid dysfunction
When This Test Is Low
Deficiency: goiter, hypothyroidism, fibrocystic breasts
Related Conditions
Hypothyroidism, goiter, breast disease
Recommended Follow-Up
If low, raise iodine through food (iodized salt, seafood) or a supplement your clinician suggests; people with Hashimoto's can be sensitive to too much iodine, so skip kelp and other seaweed and high-dose iodine (NIDDK)