Are You Getting Enough Iodine?

We all need iodine. Iodine plays a vital role in healthy thyroid, breasts, ovaries and prostate tissue. Iodine helps detoxify the body when it is exposed to halides such as chlorine, bromine and fluoride. High bromine levels have been associated with breast cancer and prostate cancer.

We all need salt, but iodinated table salt is highly processed which removes valuable minerals. Only 10% of the iodine in this salt is biologically available. The ideal salt is unrefined sea salt with its multitude of minerals. This salt may actually normalize blood pressure.

Virtually every cell in the body is dependent on iodine. When iodine is deficient, the thyroid competes with other storage sites. An unmet deficit puts one at risk for a variety of conditions and illnesses, including cancer. Proper iodine supplementation has been shown to improve ovarian cysts and fibrocystic breast disorder.

Iodine deficiency can take 3 to 6 months to correct in healthy individuals and 6 to 12 months in ill individuals. Japanese take in 10 to 12 milligrams of iodine daily due a diet rich in seafood and sea vegetables, which likely explains their lower rates of breast cancer and still births. The RDA in the USA is in micrograms. Low iodine intake along with bromine exposure may be the primary cause of poor thyroid function with normal looking thyroid labs.

Selenium is VITALLY important for optimal thyroid function.

NEVER TAKE HIGH DOSE IODINE WITHOUT ADEQUATE SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTATION!!! Selenium deficiency can exacerbate the effects of iodine deficiency. Iodine is essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormone, but selenium-dependent enzymes (iodothyronine deiodinases) are also required for the conversion of thyroxine (T4) to the biologically active thyroid hormone, triiodothyronine (T3). Additionally, deficiencies of vitamin A or iron may exacerbate the effects of iodine deficiency. [1] Magnesium supplementation is very beneficial (magnesium taurate 200 mg to 500 mg or magnesium glycinate to bowel tolerance). Liposomal tyrosine may also be needed.

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU BE MONITORED BY A PHYSICIAN WHEN UNDERTAKING A DETOX REGIMEN, OR TAKING HIGHER THAN RECOMMENDED DAILY ALLOWANCE AMOUNTS OF IODINE. You should not undertake high dose iodine supplementation with kidney disease or thyroid cancer.

We can discuss the appropriate amounts for dietary supplementing for you during an appointment.We would also need to screen for adrenal insufficiency, because correcting this will likely help tolerance of iodine replacement therapy.

If you take thyroid medication, you may find you need less or none at all after iodine and selenium are sufficient. If you are diabetic or have high cholesterol, this regimen will also help these problems.

An iodine challenge test will reveal either iodine deficiency or sufficiency, and can show the amount of fluoride and bromine being excreted. Selenium levels are best measured on whole blood.

What are dietary sources of iodine? The richest source of iodine is seafood and seaweed. Seaweed, otherwise known as kelp, can concentrate both iodine and bromine. If the bromine content is higher than the iodine, then it can lead to unfavorable thyroid function. But, in general, most varieties of kelp tend to increase thyroid function. [2] The iodine content of most foods depends on the soil iodine content. Processed foods may have iodized salt or food additives which may slightly increase their iodine content. Iodine is commonly added to animal feed in the U.S. and northern Europe. The following lists the approximate iodine content of iodine-rich foods in micrograms.[3]
Food Serving Iodine (mcg)
Salt (iodized) 1 gram 77
Cod 3 ounces* size of deck of cards 99
Shrimp 3 ounces 35
Fish sticks 2 fish sticks 35
Tuna, canned in oil 3 ounces (1/2 can) 17
Milk (cow's) 1 cup (8 fluid ounces) 56
Egg, boiled 1 large 12
Navy beans, cooked 1/2 cup 32
Potato with peel, baked 1 medium 60
Turkey breast, baked 3 ounces 34
Seaweed* 1/4 ounce, dried Variable; may be >4,500 mcg (4.5 mg)

*NOTE THAT SEAWEED MAY CONTAIN VARIABLE AMOUNTS OF BROMINE.

REMEMBER SELENIUM MUST BE TAKEN WITH IODINE, OTHERWISE TOXIC METABOLITES WILL DAMAGE THE THYROID.
Acute toxicity Acute iodine poisoning is rare and usually occurs only with doses of many grams. Symptoms of acute iodine poisoning include burning of the mouth, throat, and stomach; fever; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; a weak pulse; and coma.

Taking higher doses of iodine may result in some of the following symptoms: runny nose, increased salivation, bronchitis, watering eyes, acne-like eruptions, nausea, weakness, and palpitations. These are all reversible with reducing the dose and are thought to be related to detoxifying too quickly.

Don't use bleached flour or baked goods with bleached flour. These have bromine and increase the need for iodine and interfere with normal thyroid function. Many soft drinks and even Gatorade have bromine. Aerosolized pesticides have bromine. I don’t recommend bromine for hot tub sanitation. Water filters can help filter out fluoride and chlorine. I don’t recommend Splenda due to its chlorine content, especially when heated.

Recommended references: 1). Brownstein, M.D., David: Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It, 3rd Edition, West Bloomfield, MI: Medical Alternative Press, 2008; 2. International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders, http://www.iccidd.org/; 3. http://www.optimox.com/; 4.http://www.breastcancerchoices.org/;5. Iodine for Health, Donald Miller, MD at www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller20.html; 6. LINUS PAULING INSTITUTE lpi.oregonstate.edu


[1] Lpi.oregonstate.edu
[2]www.acu-cell.com/br.html
[3] Lpi.oregonstate.edu