1. THYROID, METABOLISM & WEIGHT
Iodine is the key to a healthy thyroid and metabolism. It is best known for being a part of thyroid hormones, which are used in every cell of our bodies to regulate metabolism and weight by controlling the burning of fat for energy and heat. Over 100 years ago iodine was shown to prevent and reverse goiter (swelling of the thyroid) and hypothyroid. Iodine deficiency may also be involved in autoimmune disorders such as Grave’s and Hashimoto’s diseases; as studies have shown iodine-deficient patients have a higher rate of anti-thyroid antibodies.
Thyroid hormones are required for growth and development of children.
Iodine also controls metabolism in other ways. It is important for the other endocrine glands: the adrenals, pituitary, gonads (sex glands), pancreas, pineal and thymus. Iodine is also involved in digestion, and is concentrated in the salivary glands and gastric mucosa. It has also been associated with: excess mucus production, fatigue, hemorrhoids, headaches, keloid scarring, and migraine headaches.
There is an epidemic of obesity and overweight in this country. And no wonder! Iodine is crucial for metabolism and weight loss. Iodine stores in fat cells. Toxic halogens can also store in fat cells, blocking the release of fat and blocking weight loss. Low thyroid has long been associated with modest weight gain. But patients with low iodine levels AND accumulation of toxic halogens are showing a disturbing trend of being unable to lose weight beyond a certain plateau. By some estimates 50% to 60% of our population is now considered obese. The best therapy in most cases is brief high-dose iodine (12.5 mg/day) combined with L-Tyrosine (1000 mg/day) to make more thyroid hormones. Also essential are dry-heat or far infra-red saunas for detoxification of other halogens, 25% calorie reduction, and consistent exercise.
2. MENTAL DEVELOPMENT VS RETARDATION
The World Health Organization (WHO) has related iodine deficiency to mental retardation, cretinism, increased child and infant mortality, infertility, and socioeconomic decline -- and more recently developmental delays (ADD, PDD, LD). Iodine and thyroid hormones stimulate the development of the brain and nerves. Hence it is important for intelligence and memory. It was shown to make a difference of 13.5 points on IQ tests between iodine deficient and iodine sufficient areas. Iodine is crucial to brain development, and is concentrated in the brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and the eye, as well as the substantia nigra of the brain (an area associated with Parkinson’s Disease). High amounts of iodine are excreted in breast milk to help develop a baby’s growing brain and nervous system. Some evolutionary biologists believe iodine and eating seafood played an important role in human brain development and evolution.
3. FERTILITY
The World Health Organization has also related iodine deficiency to infertility. Iodine is most important for women, because it is most highly concentrated in the thyroid, breasts and ovaries. Iodine deficiency can lead to menstrual irregularities, infertility, early menopause, and ovarian diseases. But it is still vital for men, especially for the prostate.
4. ENHANCED IMMUNE FUNCTION
Iodine is now known to play an essential role in immune function. It has potent anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-viral, and anti-cancer activity. For centuries it has been used topically to kill bacteria. Until recently it was the leading anti-parasitic drug (yodoxin or iododoxin). High-dose iodine has been shown to kill breast and thyroid cancer cells (induce selective apoptosis). It is also a potent antioxidant. More recently, iodine deficiency has been related to: thyroid cancer, fibrocystic breast disease, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and prostate cancer. In the 1960’s when iodine intake was higher (and toxic halogens lower) the risk for breast cancer was 1 in 20; today it is 1 in 8 and increasing by 1% per year! Iodine deficiency has also been associated with the following: parotid duct stones, sebaceous cysts, and vaginal infections.
CAUSES OF IODINE DEFICIENCIES
WHY ARE IODINE LEVELS SO LOW?
According to the NHANES data iodine levels in the USA have fallen by about 50% over the last 30 years. Why? There are many reasons. According to the World Health Organization, about one-third of the world’s population live in Iodine deficient areas, which affects 129 countries. This is because most of the iodine resides in the sea and seashores, while most inland areas are iodine deficient. Other contributing factors include: diets low in fish, shellfish or seaweed, vegan or vegetarian diets, poor availability of iodine in salt, poor farming techniques, avoidance of salt due to fear of high blood pressure, the ingestion of toxic halogens, and the use of radioactive iodine in many medical procedures (which competes with natural iodine). In addition, past sources of iodine in food have been removed. For example: Iodide was used as a dough conditioner in baked goods from the 1960’s to the 1980’s, but has since been replaced with bromide (a toxic halogen). Cow’s udders and milking buckets were swabbed with iodide to kill germs. But no longer.
The reason is “THE WOLFF-CHAIKOFF EFFECT”, which has been a disaster for iodine. This experiment led to a fear of iodine, and iodine being removed from the American food supply for over 30 years! This paper has been quoted by many, but understood by few. It was misinterpreted, and used to describe a case of hypothyroidism caused by excessive iodine intake. In fact: toxic radioactive iodine was injected intravenously. It had nothing to do with food or supplement iodine intake. And it cannot explain why high intake of natural iodine does not cause the same effect.