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The Iodine Group | |
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Winston W Greene, DC
IodineGreene W
"The iodine contents of foods and of total diets differ appreciably and are influenced by geochemical, soil and cultural conditions which modify the iodine uptake of staple crops and foods of animal origin.
"Cooking reduces the iodine content of food. The data show that frying reduces the iodine content by 20%, grilling by 23% and boiling by as much as 58%.
"Iodine is readily absorbed, and excess intake is controlled by renal excretion. Absorption is usually complete but may be delayed in protein-energy malnutrition. Thyroid hormones in animal foods and other organic iodine compounds are not completely absorbed-there may be a loss of up to 50%. The usual recommended level for the population mean intake' of iodine is 100-150 ug/day. This level is adequate to maintain the normal thyroid function that is essential for normal growth and development. In the presence of goitrogens in the diet, the intake should be increased to 200-300 ug/day...."
"COMMENT: Of the numerous causes of infertility and reproductive failure, iodine deficiency is usually overlooked. The addition of iodine to table salt has largely eradicated iodine deficiency in the United States. However, some individuals deliberately consume a low-salt diet for health reasons. These people may be at risk for developing subtle iodine deficiency."
"We first need to note that the body produces no iodine, and there is no organ other than the thyroid that can store large quantities of iodine. In some areas of the US, including mountain regions, the Mississippi River Valley, the Ohio River Valley, and the Great Lakes regions, the soil has always had a very low iodine content. But even in other areas of once iodine-rich soil, over farming has frequently depleted this iodine content. Hence, we no longer get adequate iodine via the plants we consume. To compensate for this, iodine was added to salt, bread, and milk. Today iodine is no longer added to bread or to milk, and the amount of iodine added to salt has steadily declined over the years. All of these factors contribute to the current prevalence of iodine deficiency in the United States."
"Research work has shown that iodine deficiency in the thyroid presents as a thyroid goiter (enlargement of the thyroid). In those areas of the world where iodine deficiency is very high, such as in Switzerland and in certain areas of Asia and Africa, there are also higher incidents of thyroid cancer. Iodine is also concentrated by breast tissue, and a lack of iodine in the breasts manifests as fibrocystic breast disease (painful breasts with nodules and cysts and often more symptomatic prior to menstrual periods). 93% of American women have fibrocystic breast disease and the longer this disease exists, the higher the potential risk for development of breast cancer. 20% of all iodine in the human body is stored in the skin, specifically in the sweat glands. Lack of iodine in the sweat glands manifests as dry skin with a decreased ability to sweat.
"Iodine can also be concentrated in the stomach tissue, and the lack of iodine in the stomach manifests as achlorhydria (lack of digestive acid production). Iodine is used by the stomach cells, also known as parietal cells, to concentrate chloride which is necessary to produce hydrochloric acid (digestive acid). With the prolonged presence of achlorhydria, there is a much higher incidence of stomach cancer.
"Iodine is concentrated in the lacrymal glands of the eye, and a lack of iodine can cause dry eyes.
"Iodine can also be concentrated in the parotid and submandibular glands of the mouth, and iodine deficiency here can result in dry mouth. Iodine can be concentrated in the ovaries, and Russian studies done some years ago showed a relationship between iodine deficiency and the presence of cysts in the ovaries. The greater the iodine deficiency, the more ovarian cysts a woman produces. In its extreme form, this condition is known as polycystic ovarian disease.
"Another misconception that is out on the market is that high consumption of iodized salt helps prevent iodine deficiency. The fact is that iodized salt contains 74meg of iodine per gram of salt. The purpose of iodization of salt was to prevent goiter and cretinism and was never meant for optimal iodine requirements by the human body. An example of this would be the ingestion of iodine in order to control fibrocystic breast disease that is a level of five milligrams of iodine per day. In this particular case one would need to consume 68 grams of salt."
"As most of us know, hypertension (high blood pressure) often
becomes an issue as we age. Because of this, many are being told
that they need to decrease the total amount of salt in their
diet. However, we must realize that most people over age 60 are
becoming depleted of iodine due to the lack of iodine in the diet
and that this particular group of individuals is also the group
with the highest occurrence of thyroid nodules and goiters. Also
of interest is that 25% of the people in this age category will
become senile as a result of low thyroid (hypothyroidism). Iodine
supplementation may alleviate these iodine-related maladies, but
iodine testing and thyroid studies such as a thyroid ultrasound
and thyroid lab tests should be conducted prior to beginning
iodine supplementation therapy." "Can Iodine be used while a woman is pregnant?
In Japan, the average Japanese woman is eating 13.8 mg of iodine
per day while the average American woman consumes 100 times less
iodine per day (approximately 0.138 mg per day). For iodine
supplementation, I have been prescribing Iodoral, a product made
by the Optimox Corporation. Iodoral contains a 12.5 mg
combination of iodine/iodide per tablet. Iodine is very crucial
in the first three years of life from the development of the
fetus inside the womb until two years after birth. In the
development of a child's IQ, I feel that it would be very
advantageous for the mother to supplement her diet during
pregnancy and, if she is nursing the child, for the first two
years after pregnancy." "Iodine supplementations should be prescribed only when iodine testing indicates iodine deficiency. Iodine testing kits can be ordered from my office (828 684 3233) by individuals or by medical practitioners. Traditional medical literature indicates that patients who have thyroid nodules or thyroid goiter may have the potential to develop hyperthyroidism when supplementing with iodine. Hence, before commencing iodine supplementation, it would be advantageous for a person to have their primary care doctor order a thyroid ultrasound to rule out the possibility of pre-existing goiter or thyroid nodules. The primary care doctor should also order thyroid lab work (to be used as a baseline) before prescribing iodine therapy and this lab work should be repeated and followed at regular intervals during the patient's iodine therapy. For iodine therapy patients not also on thyroid hormone replacement therapy, adjustments to the iodine therapy should be made if signs of hyperthyroidism should occur. Should signs of hyperthyroidism occur in patients who are taking thyroid hormone replacement therapy as well as taking iodine supplementation, the physician should first recommend an adjustment in the thyroid hormone therapy rather than in the iodine supplementation. This adjustment in therapy is recommended because iodine is required not only by the thyroid but is required for the proper functioning of many other tissues. The presence of pre-existing thyroid nodules or goiter does not preclude the patient from iodine supplementation therapy. In fact, in the extensive research with iodine therapy done in my office, I have seen many case of pre-existing thyroid nodules and goiter shrink in the presence of iodine therapy."
"Of all the elements known so far to be essential for health, IODINE is the most misunderstood. Yet, it is by far the safest of all the trace elements known to be essential for human health. It is the only trace element that can be ingested safely in amounts up to 100,000 times the RDI. It is estimated by myself and other clinicians that probably 90% or more of the population of the United States is grossly deficient in Iodine. In fact, it must be noted that Iodine is the single most deficient nutrient in the world --- with approximately 70% of the world's population deficient.
"The collective experience of many medical clinicians over 3 generations has shown that Iodine therapy in the range of 12.5mg to 50mg daily doses to be safe and effective in treating signs and symptoms of Iodine deficiency.
"The current recommended daily intake (RDI) is only 150 micrograms (.15 mg). This is hardly enough Iodine for the Thyroid gland let alone the rest of the body. The United States RDI and World Health Organization recommendations were NOT based on WHOLE-BODY sufficiency for Iodine, but on the maximum amounts of Iodine required to prevent Goiter and Cretinism. The normal daily requirements of the body for Iodine have NEVER been determined. We still do NOT know the Iodine requirements for WHOLE-BODY sufficiency."
"Since Iodine is not very soluble in water, the best preparation of an aqueous solution of Iodine is LUGOL solution because it allows the administration of a relatively large amount of Iodine in small volumes of water. The collective experience of myself, as a former registered pharmacist, and a large number of medical clinicians over the last 100 years has resulted in the recommended daily amount of 2 drops to 6 drops of LUGOL solution per day, containing 12.5 mg to 37.5 mg of Iodine for supplementation. This amount of Iodine is NOT just for the Thyroid Gland but is the amount found needed for WHOLE BODY sufficiency since every cell in the human body needs Iodine for optimal health."
"Based on numerous studies, optimum supplementation of Iodine is also highly recommended for those patients who are receiving Thyroid Hormone therapy. It is also interesting to note that the mammary glands are the tissues most often found in the body to “compete” effectively with the Thyroid Gland for Iodine; hence 50% or more women in the U. S. have been diagnosed with Fibrocystic Breast Disease. Iodine supplementation will cure this problem in 6 to 8 weeks. One in six or so women in the U.S. will diagnosed with Breast Cancer."
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