Prolamine Iodine 90 Tablets

Prolamine Iodine is one of three iodine products created by Standard Process, but it is the one that contains the most iodine. The best use for Prolamine Iodine is for short-term boosting of serum iodine levels.

What is Iodine?

You may have heard of iodine supplements that are used to purify drinking water, or as a disinfectant to clean wounds, but iodine is actually an essential trace mineral. Your body needs very small quantities of iodine to function properly, but without it, major bodily functions won’t work properly.

Iodine is needed for the body to synthesize thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) – two thyroid hormones. Triiodothyronine is essentially thyroxine with one less iodine atom. Normally, there are about 20 to 30 milligrams of iodine present in the body, most of which is stored in the thyroid gland. You can also find smaller quantities of iodine in lactating mammary glands, salivary glands, the stomach lining and in the blood.

Because it is a component of two thyroid hormones, it is essential for life. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to synthesize these hormones and your health and wellbeing would suffer devastating impacts.

Iodine Deficiency

Many years ago, before iodized salt came to be, iodine deficiency was rampant in the United States and Canada. Fortunately, since the advent of iodized salt, the problem has significantly been reduced. In addition to the salt, iodine has also been added to commercial animal feed – which means that small amounts of iodine are also transferred into milks and cheeses. For people in some developing countries and for those who avoid iodized salt and dairy, iodine deficiency is a major problem. People suffering from iodine deficiencies end up with reduced thyroid hormones.

One common hallmark of iodine is a goiter – which is essentially a bloated thyroid gland. Since the thyroid is found in the neck, this is visible externally as a puffy neck. This happens because the thyroid gland becomes over stimulated as the body continues to attempt to produce thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which it cannot do without adequate iodine. It is important to note that a goiter can be present for many reasons, but iodine deficiency is one of the most common causes throughout the world.

Iodine deficiency becomes more serious if it is allowed to progress. It can eventually lead to hypothyroidism, which can result in many undesirable symptoms that include weight gain, weakness, fatigue and depression. Somewhat surprisingly, a deficiency in iodine can also lead to hyperthyroidism, which comes with symptoms of weight loss, appetite fluctuations and a rapid heartbeat.

Iodine deficiency during pregnancy can cause the infant’s thyroid to malfunction and may even cause severe mental retardation, deafness, stunted growth and spasticity. Fortunately, if it is discovered early, iodine supplementation can help the child return to normal.

It is actually quite easy to prevent iodine deficiency, but if you already have the signs that have been confirmed by a doctor, Prolamine Iodine by Standard Process can help get your levels back to normal so your thyroid may begin functioning properly once again.