Since iodine is used in the production of thyroid hormones, a significant portion of the iodine taken into the body is retained by our thyroid gland and some tumors originating from the thyroid gland. The mechanism of action of radioactive iodine therapy (atomic therapy) applied with I-131 is based on this basis. Radioactive iodine taken into normal thyroid cell residues and tumor cells after the operation destroys the cells with the effect of radiation.
Although the iodine contained in foods, mainly iodized salt, and the iodine-131 used in radioactive iodine treatment are different molecules, the thyroid gland cannot be distinguished by tissue and tumor cells. Since our body cannot distinguish between radioactive and non-radioactive iodine, tissues capture both at the same level. In this case, two types of iodine compete with each other to be retained in normal thyroid tissue or tumors. If the level of non-radioactive iodine in the blood is high and the thyroid cells and blood pool are saturated with iodine, the radioactive iodine will not be retained sufficiently, in which case the effectiveness of the treatment will decrease. In order for the rate of radioactive iodine to be taken into the cells to be high and to increase the effectiveness of the treatment, the intake of non-radioactive iodine in our daily diet should be limited as much as possible.
A daily dose of medicines containing thyroid hormone contains approximately 10 times the amount of non-radioactive iodine than the radioactive iodine we use for treatment. . Since their lifespan in the blood is long, these drugs should be stopped 4 weeks before treatment. Since the thyroid hormone contained in the drug called Tiromel is shorter-lived, it is sufficient to leave it for 15 days.
Iodized table salt is used in our country to prevent diseases related to iodine deficiency. The first thing to consider during the iodine-restricted diet is to use non-iodized table salt. You should remember that all foods you will eat in restaurants and out-of-home environments, except for the foods you prepare at home, will contain iodized salt. Similarly, all ready-processed foods will have high iodine content. Many natural foods contain iodine in their own structure. The diet list in the appendix has been prepared by taking into account the foods containing the highest levels of iodine.
This diet will only be applied for 15 days before radioactive iodine treatment or I-131 scanning scintigraphy. It is flowing. It does not need to be applied during periods of your life other than this temporary period.
Hair dyes and henna contain high amounts of iodine and their effects last for up to 6 weeks. For this reason, our patients should not dye their hair after the thyroid tumor is detected until the treatment process is completed.
I wish you healthy days.
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