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Three research abstracts presented at the ACVIM Forum evaluated the effect of dietary iodine content on feline hyperthyroidism.1-3 All studies were conducted in cats with naturally occurring hyperthyroidism, and treatment consisted solely of dietary restriction
of iodine at various concentrations.
Researchers found that iodine restriction alone achieved euthyroidism in 80% to 90% of cats, and this state was maintained
throughout follow-up without other medical intervention (range of follow-up was 10 months to three years in some cases). While
larger-scale studies are still warranted, this is promising evidence that feline hyperthyroidism may be managed with dietary
iodine restriction.
This "Presentation Recap" summary from the 2011 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum, which took
place in Denver, Colo., was contributed by Jennifer L. Garcia, DVM, DACVIM, a veterinary internal medicine consultant in Houston,
Texas.
REFERENCES
1. Melendez LM, Yamka RM, Forrester DS, et al. Titration of dietary iodine for reducing serum thyroxine concentrations in newly
diagnosed hyperthyroid cats (abst). J Vet Intern Med 2011;25(3):683.
2. Melendez LD, Yamka RM, Burris PA. Titration of dietary iodine for maintaining normal serum thyroxine concentrations in hyperthyroid
cats (abst). J Vet Intern Med 2011;25(3):683.
3. Yu S, Wedekind KJ, Burris PA, et al. Controlled level of dietary iodine normalizes serum total thyroxine in cats with naturally
occurring hyperthyroidism (abst). J Vet Intern Med 2011;25(3):683-684.
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