Low Iodine Diet

Low iodine diets are often used in the management of patients with thyroid cancer.

General Description

This diet severely limits the intake of iodine-rich foods. Low iodine diets are implemented prior to administration of radioactive iodine for thyroid cancer treatment. A low iodine diet will increase the effectiveness of radioactive iodine therapy. A low iodine diet is generally not needed for diagnostic tests using radioactive iodine of for the treatment of hyperthyroid states.

Indications for Use

We usually recommend a low iodine diet for 4 weeks prior to taking radioactive iodine for thyroid cancer therapy. A normal iodine diet is resumed 1 week following the dosing with radioactive iodine. Thyroid hormone therapy is generally started 48 hours after dosing with radioactive iodine.

Nutritional Adequacy

In comparison to the Recommended Dietary Allowances, this diet is adequate in all nutrients with the exception of iodine, calcium, phosphorus, and riboflavin.

General Considerations

Foods should be prepared with only non-iodized salt.
Foods that contain small amounts of milk and/or eggs may be used (i.e. breads, rolls, mayonnaise, etc.).
Since there is no reasonable way to determine which restaurants use iodized salt and which do not, patients should refrain from eating out during this study.

Guidelines

Food Groups	Foods Allowed	Foods Not Allowed
Dairy	*None	Whole milk, 2% milk, 1% milk, skim milk, buttermilk, chocolate milk, soy milk, all yogurt, all cheeses, cream, non-dairy creamers, ice cream, milkshakes, eggnog
Meat or Substitute	Beef, pork, lamb, veal, poultry, unsalted peanut butter, tofu, unsalted nuts.	All seafood (shellfish, salt water, and fresh-water fish), ham, corned beef, bacon, sausage, hot dogs, canned meats.
Eggs	*None	All
Potato or Substitute	Any except as listed.	Any to which “foods not allowed” have been added.
Vegetables	Any except as listed.	Sauerkraut and rhubarb; also any to which “foods not allowed” have been added.
Fruit and Fruit Juices	Any	None
Breads & cereals	**Bread products that contain bromated-dough conditioners; cereals except as listed.	Bread products that contain iodate-dough conditioners; cereals that contain red-food coloring, chocolate or molasses; pancake and muffin mixes.
Fats	Any except as listed.	Bacon, sausage, cream.
Beverages	Any except as listed.	Beverages that contain red food coloring, chocolate, or other foods not allowed.
Soup	Homemade broth or broth-based soups made with allowed ingredients.	Cream or canned soups.
Desserts	Any except as listed.	Desserts that contain “foods not allowed”.
Miscellaneous	Non-iodized salt, soy sauce, honey jelly, sugar, syrup, pepper, lemon, low-sodium catsup.	Iodized salt, sea salt, red-food dyes (in candies, gelatin, cereals, some medication, etc), molasses, foods that contain iodate, iodide, aigin, aiginate, carrageen, agar; cod liver oil.

*Rich’s non-dairy cream substitute is acceptable.

**Iodate-dough conditioners were, at one time, the only type used in bread products. Generally today these have been replaced by the bromated-type conditioner.

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