Radioactive iodine therapy is a very commonly used treatment when it comes to thyroid conditions, especially for thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism. But before the treatment even begins, doctors recommend that you be on a low-iodine diet for a specific period of time. This helps reduce the amount of non-radioactive iodine in your body, so the thyroid tissue takes up more of the radioactive iodine used in treatment. At Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy, we perform thyroid-related examinations and nuclear medicine tests with the help of our highly advanced technology and qualified technicians. We help doctors study thyroid conditions better and plan the right treatment accordingly by providing correct and clear images and prompt reports. Dr. Nikunj Jain, Co-Founder and HOD – Nuclear Medicine, guides patients on the preparation, testing, and follow-up required for radioactive iodine therapy.
What Is Radioactive Iodine Therapy? Radioactive iodine therapy is a therapy that includes the use of iodine in a radioactive form, which is usually iodine-131 (I-131), to treat thyroid conditions. Thyroid cells present in the body absorb iodine naturally as they require it to make hormones of thyroid. This ability allows the radioactive iodine to make its way to thyroid tissues after being taken in by mouth. This is used to destroy thyroid tissues in the body that are overactive in nature, and to treat the thyroid cancer cells which remain after surgery; this depends on the condition. Just because a person has a thyroid disease or cancer in the thyroid doesn't mean they need radioactive iodine therapy. This decision is very much dependent on several factors such as the type of disease, its extent, risk of coming back, last treatment, and specific conditions.
What Is a Low-Iodine Diet? When you follow a low-iodine diet, it reduces the amount of iodine eaten from food and other sources for a specific amount of time before this therapy or any other radioactive iodine scan begins. The goal of this step is not just to completely remove iodine from the body but to reduce the dietary iodine so that thyroid tissue takes up the iodine, which is radioactive, used in the treatment. The duration and restrictions of this diet vary, so you need to follow the instructions given by your medical team or diagnostic centre.
Why Is a Low-Iodine Diet Recommended? Cells of the thyroid absorb iodine from the bloodstream in the body. If there is a large quantity of non-radioactive iodine present in the body, then the tissues in the thyroid won’t absorb the iodine that is radioactive and given during treatment. That's why, when you follow a low-iodine diet, it helps this issue not arise. It helps to improve the radioactive iodine being taken up by the thyroid tissue and helps support the treatment. But diet is not the only preparation needed for this therapy. There are other factors too, such as thyroid-stimulating hormone levels, and specific medications can be included, which depend on the patient’s treatment plan. Which Foods May Need to Be Limited? You should only follow instructions from the specialist in nuclear medicine who is treating you or your medical team. Do not follow any general advice given online or by someone else. Because instructions vary depending on the protocol, you may be told to limit foods that have a large quantity of iodine. These may include:
Iodized salt and foods made with large amounts of iodized salt
Seaweed and products made from seaweed
Some seafood
Certain dairy products
Processed foods containing iodine-containing ingredients
Some nutritional supplements containing iodine
Check the labels behind the packages of foods and supplements if advised. A low-iodine diet does not mean stopping the intake of iodine completely or following a restrictive diet. The goal is to just reduce the amount but not the nutritional value. How Long Should the Diet Be Followed? The duration of the diet depends on the centre you are getting your treatment in, the type of therapy, and the individual patient. Some protocols of treatment say the low-iodine diet should be followed for a week or two before the treatment starts or scanning is done. As a patient, do not decide when to begin or stop the diet just based on your conclusion. Your medical team will provide you with all the instructions based on the plan of the treatment, and you should follow them.
Does Everyone Need a Low-Iodine Diet? For most patients preparing for radioactive iodine therapy, a low-iodine diet is recommended, although the specific approach may be adjusted based on individual health conditions and the treatment plan. Patients need to follow the advice of their treating team, and not take everyone's word that they must eat a certain way for the treatment of every thyroid problem. Alternatively, the preparation could differ from radioactive iodine therapy to diagnostic radioactive iodine scans.
What Other Preparation May Be Required? Preparing to use radioactive iodine is only a part of a low-iodine diet. Sometimes, doctors will suggest that some medications be adjusted or even thyroid hormone treatment. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) must be high enough in some thyroid cancer people to allow the remaining thyroid tissue to take up radioactive iodine. This could be done by temporary thyroid hormone withdrawal or by the administration of recombinant human TSH to selected patients. Depending on the person's treatment plan, these approaches are warranted. Never discontinue or change the treatment without a doctor's permission. What Happens During Radioactive Iodine Therapy?
Radioactive iodine is usually given orally as a capsule or liquid. Once given, the iodine enters the bloodstream and is taken up by the thyroid gland or any other tissue that is able to concentrate iodine. Then, the radioactive iodine emits radiation to hit the target tissue. The radioactive iodine dose will vary depending upon the condition treated and protocol. Due to the fact that I-131 is a radioactive isotope, patients might be given special instructions after treatment about how to minimize exposure to others. Role of Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy
Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy offers diagnostic and nuclear medicine services to assist the evaluation and management of thyroid conditions. A thyroid test, imaging evaluation, or nuclear medicine evaluation might help healthcare professionals decide on the care that's next for the patient. Dr. Nikunj Jain, Co-Founder and HOD – Nuclear Medicine, takes patients through the investigations and treatment planning that help them make a decision regarding the radioactive iodine treatment based on their clinical presentation and the test results.
Conclusion It is sometimes recommended that you follow a low-iodine diet before radioactive iodine treatment may be needed if doing so lowers iodine uptake by the thyroid and allows it to work better. This is a short-term diet to follow, as directed by the health care team. Details of the preparation vary depending on the patient's thyroid situation, anticipated procedure, drugs taken, and other clinical conditions. Thyroid medication should not be discontinued or large dietary changes made by patients without medical consultation. Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy provides patients with thyroid diagnostic and nuclear medicine procedures under the management of Dr. Nikunj Jain, guiding them through the proper assessment, preparation, treatment, and aftercare.