Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
    Featured Articles
    • Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
      Foods You Don’t Have To Buy Organic: The Clean 15
    • Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
      Foods You Should Always Buy Organic: The Dirty Dozen
    • Food Safety
      What Is Allulose?
    • Cooking & Cookware
      Buckwheat Basics?
    • Videos
      Video: Top 12 Anti-Inflammatory Foods To Add To Your Shopping List
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Andrew Weil For Origins
  • Shop
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Subscribe
Allergic to Iodine?
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Health & Wellness
  3. Body, Mind & Spirit
  4. Allergy & Asthma

Allergic to Iodine?

I have known for several years that I have a severe reaction to iodine. The last exposure almost killed me. I also know it’s needed for proper thyroid function. What should I do?

Andrew Weil, M.D. | August 12, 2010

allergic to iodine
2 min

Iodine is a chemical element that humans require in trace amounts for proper growth and development. For adults, the recommended daily allowance is 150 micrograms. Iodine exists naturally in most soils, and is taken up by plants, which in turn are eaten by humans and animals. Most of the human body’s stores of iodine are located in the thyroid gland, which requires it for the synthesis of thyroid hormones.

Allergic reactions to iodine usually stem from iodine-­based contrast dyes injected to sharpen pictures in medical imaging studies such as x-rays and CT scans. These reactions typically are mild and involve nausea, vomiting, itching, flushing and hives. But in some cases, reactions can be quite severe (anaphylaxis) with swelling of the throat, difficulty breathing, profound low blood pressure, convulsions, and cardiac arrest. If you’ve experienced a severe reaction as a result of the dye used for an imaging study, make sure your physician and the radiologist supervising any future x-rays or scans are fully aware of your history.

Strictly speaking, a reaction to an iodine-based dye is not the same thing as an allergy to iodine because it generally doesn’t stem from the same type of immune-system response as a true allergy.

Having a reaction to an iodine-based contrast dye is also not the same as an allergy to seafood, which may be rich in iodine. If you’re reacting to shellfish, the iodine it contains is unlikely to be responsible. It is more likely due to distinctive allergens found in these foods. Most people who are allergic to shellfish react to certain proteins these foods contain, not to iodine. You can be allergic to all types of shellfish or only to mollusks (clams, mussels, oysters and scallops as well as limpets, periwinkles, snails [escargot], abalone, squid, cuttlefish and octopus) or to crustaceans (crabs, lobster, crayfish, shrimp and prawns). Each of these two general types of shellfish contains different proteins.

There is a small chance (about three percent) that if you’re allergic to seafood, you’ll have a reaction to contrast dye, but this is no more likely to happen than it is among people with other types of food allergies.

In general, if you reacted to an iodine-based contrast dye, you should be able to safely eat seafood and other foods high in iodine. If your reaction was to shellfish of some type, you are probably allergic to something other than iodine. And don’t worry about your thyroid. Your body will get the trace amounts of iodine needed to make thyroid hormone from your diet.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Trending Now

acupuncture for allergies
Allergy & Asthma

Acupuncture For Allergies?

seasonal allergies
Allergy & Asthma

Adult Allergies?

seasonal allergies
Allergy & Asthma

Allergic Rhinitis

allergic to iodine
Allergy & Asthma

Allergic to Iodine?

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
acupuncture for allergies
Allergy & Asthma

Acupuncture For Allergies?

seasonal allergies
Allergy & Asthma

Adult Allergies?

Daily Tips
Boost Your Mood In Five Simple Steps
Health Tips

Boost Your Mood In Six Simple Steps

hair and nail supplements
Health Tips

4 Supplements For Your Hair, Skin, & Nails

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright 2021 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com