The Critical Importance of Dietary Iodine

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The Critical Importance of Dietary Iodine (Jan. 2006)

 

Before 1950, doctors prescribed Lugol's Solution (potassium iodide and

iodine crystals in water solution) for many health problems, including

thyroid disease, fatigue, obesity, chronic infections, and cancers.

Dosages of 20 to 180 mg daily were safely given. In fact, iodine was

considered to be a virtual panacea by American and European doctors.

It was observed that a daily dose of 20 to 40 milligrams of iodine

promoted health and well-being.

 

Unfortunately, in 1948, misinformation about iodine was published,

causing 60 years of medical iodophobia (fear of iodine). Iodine

medicines were frowned upon and mistakenly blamed for allergic

reactions. This resulted in the recommended daily allowance of iodine

in our foods being limited to only 150 micrograms. Consequently,

chronic iodine deficiency in millions of Americans has caused

widespread and unnecessary illness.

 

Over 10% of Americans are afflicted with some form of thyroid problem,

and hypothyroidism is common in women from 20 to 40 years old. Studies

of these women show a direct connection with below-normal total body

iodine. Thyroid signs of iodine deficiency (goiter, fatigue, hair

loss, etc.) are late stages of severe iodine deficiency. Replacement

therapy with thyroid hormones alone will increase total body iodine

deficiency, making matters worse. In the " goiter belts " of the South

and Midwest U.S., there is an increased amount of fibrocystic breast

disorder and breast cancer. These findings link with severe iodine

deficiency.

 

Iodine is an essential micronutrient required not only by the thyroid

gland but by every cell in the entire body, including muscle, fat,

brain and nerves, the immune system and endocrine hormone glands, etc.

Iodine is most highly concentrated in the thyroid gland and breasts.

 

Bromide and fluoride, both toxic minerals, interfere with iodine

absorption and promote goiters. Over the past 20 years, widespread

contamination with bromide and fluoride has been associated with an

increased occurrence of thyroid and breast cancers in American women.

It may also be connected to increasing prostate cancer in men and

stomach cancer in both sexes.

 

Iodized table salt (sodium chloride) is not effective as a dietary

source of iodine because the much greater amount of chloride in food

grade salt competes with the iodine for intestinal absorption.

Adequate oral intake of iodine is required to overcome the competition

by toxic bromide and fluoride.

 

The National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES Study), undertaken by

the U.S. Center for Disease Control from 1971 to 2000, showed that

iodine levels in the general population have fallen over 50% in the

last 30 years. What this means is that everyone with chronic illnesses

needs to be checked for their total body iodine levels.

 

Iodine has antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-parasite,

anti-cancer and mucus clearing properties. It also has anti-oxidative

activity by decreasing free radical formation, protecting nucleic

acids (DNA and RNA), proteins (enzymes) and other life-sustaining

molecules in your body from oxidative damage. Iodine restores the

ability of cells to respond normally to hormones, improves energy

production, promotes elimination of toxic heavy metals, including

aluminum, cadmium, lead and mercury, and of toxic halide ions,

including bromine and fluorine.

 

Dietary iodine has been demonstrated to be useful for:

• thyroid disorders, including goiter, nodules and cysts

• diabetes mellitus and other hormone imbalances

• heavy metal and halide detoxification

• enhancing mental function, e.g., ADD

• chronic fatigue syndrome

• fibrocystic breasts

• fibromyalgia

• ovarian cysts

• immune system disorders

• acute and chronic infections

• all forms of abnormal scarring

• cancer, esp. of the breast, uterus, ovary, prostate, thyroid and stomach

• improving heart function, e.g., irregular heart beats, high blood

pressure

• obesity, esp. that resistant to diet, exercise and other treatment

• protection from nuclear radiation fallout and industrial pollution

• reduction of oxidative stress, etc.

 

Since Lugol's Solution (potassium iodide and iodine crystals in water)

may vary in concentration, tastes unpleasant, stains clothing and can

be inconvenient for people to use, a new, dry tablet form of

standardized, inorganic, non-radioactive, potassium iodide/iodine has

been developed called Iodoral®, delivering 12.5 mg of elemental iodine

per tablet.

 

The iodine loading challenge test is a simple, 24-hour urine

collection performed after a loading dose of Iodoral®. It provides an

accurate estimation of total body iodide/iodine status and helps to

guide therapy. The iodine loading challenge test may be obtained from

VRP at (800) 877-2447, using #235277 to place your order for the test

kit. The medical advisory staff of VRP will provide free

interpretation of your test results.

 

Many people have reported increased energy, a better sense of

well-being, long sought after weight loss, improved bowel movements,

increased tolerance to the cold, etc., within the first three weeks of

iodine supplementation. Benefits will further accrue with time. The

best results will be achieved when appropriate iodine supplementation

is combined with a complete nutritional program that emphasizes a diet

richer in magnesium than in calcium foods.

 

by Mitchell A. Fleisher, MD

 

Dr. Mitch Fleisher, M.D., D.Ht., D.A.B.F.M., Dc.A.B.C.T., is a

board-certified family physician specializing in nutritional and

botanical medicine, classical homeopathy, chelation and bio-oxidative

therapy. With over twenty years experience in integrative medicine,

Dr. Fleisher practices in Nellysford, VA (www.alternativemedcare.com).