> Iodine Deficiency- An Old Epidemic is Back
>
>
> www.ei-resource.org/expert-columns/dr.-jacob-teitelbaums-column/iodine-deficiency-%11-an-old-epidemic-is-back
>
> by Jacob Teitelbaum MD
>
>
>
> Iodine deficiency used to be an epidemic in the U.S. (until salt was added
> to iodine and wheat). It is now coming back big time! Fortunately, it is an
> easy to prevent problem, and addressing it can help you feel much better.
>
>
>
>
> Unfortunately, the issue of iodine deficiency will be growing in importance
> over the coming decade. This is occurring for a number of reasons. In fact,
> iodine intake has dropped by 50% from 1971 to 2001 and continues to drop.
> This causes not only an underactive thyroid, but likely increases the risk of
> breast cysts and cancer dramatically (the U.S. has 3 times the incidence of
> breast cancer as Japan, where iodine consumption is higher).
>
>
>
>
>
> Iodine deficiency may also contribute to fatigue and CFS, and simply
> supplementing for 90 days with 1 bottle of iodine (called Iodoral 1 a day) can tell
> you if you need it and may help a lot!
>
>
>
> Bottom Line? For those with CFS & FMS, unexplained fatigue, or breast
> symptoms or cancer, it is reasonable to take a high dose iodine supplement
> (Iodoral) 1 a day for 1 bottle (90 days). After this, if you feel much better you
> can stay on it or stop it and see if you still need it. You may find that one
> bottle is enough to "fill your tank" and correct any deficiencies, as the
> Energy Revitalization System vitamin powder supplies 150 mcg a day (the full RDA)
> for maintenance. For those with breast cancer, I would add the one Iodoral a
> day long term and consider working with a holistic practitioner to take 5 a
> day while waiting for the research to be done. For breast cancer I would also
> add vitamin D 4,000 units a day, Coenzyme Q10 at 200-400 mg a day, and the
> vitamin powder.
>
>
>
>
> The issue of recurring iodine deficiency is fascinating, with major health
> implications. Fortunately, it is easy to both treat and prevent.
>
>
>
> The issue of iodine deficiency will be growing in importance over the coming
> decade. This is occurring for a number of reasons:
>
>
>
> 1. Iodine deficiency with goiter has historically been widespread in the
> U.S. (especially in the Great Lakes region). This is why iodine was added to
> salt.
>
> 2. Until recently, a lot of our iodine intake was from wheat (~ 25%).
>
> 3. Unfortunately, flour mills have switched from adding iodine to using
> bromides instead. Bromides in flour was banned in the U.K. in 1990, and in Canada
> in 1994, as being toxic, but the FDA still allows its use in the U.S.
>
> 4. As iodine and bromine (and fluorides) are all related chemically (called
> halides), they can act as competitive inhibitors to each other.
>
> 5. Because of this, we are seeing iodine deficiencies from both decreased
> intake, and from bromine and fluorine making the iodine you do have less
> effective.
>
> 6. Iodine intakes (estimated by urine output) dropped by ~ 50% from 1971 to
> 2001 (see article in Salt Institute).
>
> 7. The current RDA for iodine is ~ 150 mcg/day. Much of this comes from
> iodine added to salt. Unfortunately, most of the salt used in food processing
> does not have iodine, and people are using less salt at home (the stuff that is
> iodized) because of the misguided medical advice (except in those with heart
> failure) to avoid salt. People who eat more salt live longer.
>
> 8. An additional problem is that the addition of large amounts of
> unfermented soy (e.g., soy milk, soy cheese, soy protein added to food) inactivates an
> enzyme called "thyroid peroxidase" and can cause "hypothyroidism." This is
> less of a problem with fermented soy products like tempeh and tofu.
>
>
>
> What are the implications of iodine deficiency coming back?
>
> 1. An epidemic of thyroid problems. Bromides which may block iodine function
> are implicated in many thyroid disorders (bromides are reported to be 50x
> higher in thyroid tissue of thyroid cancer patients). Low iodine can contribute
> to an increased risk of both an under or over active thyroid.
>
> 2. A key role that iodine plays is in breast tissue, and breast tissue from
> women with breast cancer have lower iodine levels than healthy controls. This
> effect is so marked, that hypothyroid women (who free up more iodine for
> breast tissue use) actually have lower levels of breast cancer. Women in Japan
> (who get much more iodine in their diet) have a 2/3 lower risk of breast
> cancer than women in the U.S.
>
> It is probable that low iodine is a significant risk factor for breast
> cancer. One of the upcoming studies that our foundation is planning after we
> finish the Natural Treatment for Infertility Study is to add high dose iodine (4-5
> Iodoral tablets a day) to the treatment protocol of women with breast
> cancer.
>
> 3. Low iodine may increase the risk of heart disease. For a review of this
> issue, see Hypothesis: Dietary Iodine Intake in the Etiology of Cardiovascular
> Disease in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.
>
> 4. Low iodine may also contribute to fatigue and CFS. A study showed that
> those with low body temperature and fatigue felt better on Iodine 1,500 mcg a
> day even though their temperature did not rise with treatment. It is
> reasonable for those with chronic fatigue, CFS and fibromyalgia to try added iodine
> (Iodoral) for 3 months to see if it helps.
>
>
>
> Testing: The accuracy of iodine testing has not been confirmed to my
> satisfaction, and I find that it often works best to treat clinically based on your
> symptoms and then see if it helps. Much as we like to have a piece of paper
> that gives definitive results (lab and x-ray results), sadly these results are
> often not reliable (see Lab Testing is NOT Reliable!). I would simply treat
> without doing testing in those who have:
>
> 1. Breast cysts, tenderness, or cancer. I consider these markers for iodine
> deficiency.
>
> 2. CFS or fibromyalgia.
>
> 3. Thyroid disease or thyroid cancer.
>
> 4. Low body temps (under 98.0 Fahrenheit). In one study using 1,500 mcg/day
> of iodine in those with fatigue and low temperature, the temperature did not
> come up, but the patients felt much better on it and had improved energy.
>
>
>
> If you prefer to have lab confirmation, Dr. Kent Holtorf is using the urine
> iodine testing from Nitek and subsequent treatment with iodine when low. He
> estimates about 50-60% are low and about 20-30% very low. Dr. David
> Brownstein, a wonderful physician who wrote the book Iodine (available at Dr. David
> Brownstein's website) does an iodine loading test discussed in his book, which
> also shows ~ 95% of folks he tests to be low. The question with iodine
> testing is how one defines "low," and I personally am not anxious to do a test that
> does not affect how I treat.
>
>
>
> Both simply treating without testing or doing lab testing are reasonable
> options, and a good case could be made for treating everyone who has
> fibromyalgia or CFS, unexplained fatigue, or breast disease (cysts, cancer, or
> tenderness) with iodine for 3 months to see if they improve without any testing.
>
>
>
> Treatment
>
> Iodine Supplementation: We used to use Lugol's solution (a mix of iodine and
> iodide), but this is messy, irritating to the stomach, and can mildly stain
> teeth. A much preferred option is to use Iodoral 1 tab a day (12,500 mcg
> iodine per tablet a high dose made by the Optimox Company), which is available on
> line and at many holistic practitioner's offices. Some doctors are using 2-4
> tabs a day, but these higher doses are best done under a holistic
> practitioner's supervision as very high doses of iodine may suppress thyroid function.
> Though there is a concern about thyroid suppression from high iodine, this is
> generally not seen at a dose of 1 Iodoral a day (if you look at the actual
> studies as opposed to people simply speaking from no data). An additional
> benefit is that high dose Iodine may flush bromides out of the body over time,
> resulting in your being healthier and needing less Iodine over time.
>
>
>
> Two cautions:
>
> 1. A small percent of those with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis will occasionally
> flare when taking iodine supplements (even in multivitamins). This usually
> goes away over time and the iodine is actually very helpful. Many who use high
> dose iodine, such as Iodoral, report that they see less sensitivity in these
> folks starting with a high dose of iodine instead of a low dose.
>
> 2. In those with iodine allergies, I would not take the iodine supplement.
> Having said this, I have never seen anyone who had an allergic reaction
> to x-ray dyes also react to iodine supplements but better safe than sorry.
>
>
>
> Diet and Lifestyle
>
> 1. Seafood tends to be higher in iodine. An especially rich iodine source is
> seaweed, such as kelp. This is why the average Japanese woman who eats a lot
> of seaweed gets 12,500 mcg of iodine in their daily diet, while in the U.S.
> most are lucky to barely get their 150 mcg a day. This may be why breast
> cancer and breast cysts are much less common in Japan than in the U.S. and
> England (the incidence of breast cancer is over 300% more common in
>
>
> the US than Japan).
>
> 2. Cut back on soy products if you eat a lot of them especially unfermented
> soy.
>
> 3. Consider using less fluoride (I prefer it be in toothpaste instead of
> drinking water) and Bromide (often found in hot tubs to keep down bacteria other
> options are available).
>
>
>
> Summary: Bottom Line? For those with CFS/FMS, unexplained fatigue, or breast
> symptoms, it is reasonable to take an iodine supplement (Iodoral) 1 a day
> for 1 bottle (90 days). After this, if you feel much better on it you can stay
> on it or stop to see if you still need it. You may find the one bottle is
> enough to "fill your tank" and correct any deficiencies, as the Energy
> Revitalization System vitamin powder supplies 150 mcg a day (the full RDA) for
> maintenance. For those with breast cancer, I would add the one Iodoral a day long
> term, and consider working with a holistic practitioner to take 5 a day while
> waiting for the research to be done.
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> Breast Cancer Choices Iodine Investigation Project: A Patient-Driven
> Initiative
> www.breastcancerchoices.org/IodineInvestigation.html
> A limited number of free Iodine Loading tests are available to breast cancer
> patients. Contact:lynne@breastcancerchoices.org
> The premise of the 24 Hour Iodine Loading Test is that if a person ingests
> a specific amount of iodine and is iodine-sufficient, most of the iodine will
> be excreted in the urine over a 24-hour period. If the person does not
> possess an optimal amount of iodine, the body will tend to retain it and a smaller
> amount will be found in the urine during the 24-hour collection period. If
> the amount of iodine measured is less than 90%, the patient is presumed
> deficient.
>
>
> If you are interested in participating in this project and taking the 24
> Hour Iodine Loading Test, please contact us at:
> lynne@breastcancerchoices.org for reimbursement details. All identifying
> information will be kept confidential.
>
>
>
>
> 8th ANNUAL COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE CONFERENCE:
> A Holistic Approach to Breast Health
>
>
> SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2009
>
> Presented by Breast Cancer Options at SUNY New Paltz, New Paltz NY. 8am to
> 5pm. This conference will focus on treating the whole person addressing the
> value of mind-body & spirit, food as medicine, nutritional supplements, natural
> hormones and hormone balance, detoxification, risk reduction, environmental
> links to cancer, and more. CE Credits offered. Contact: 845/339-4673.
> (Additional workshops will be added)
>
>
>
>
> SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
>
> -Mitchell Gaynor, MD- Gaynor Integrative Oncology
> -Elizabeth Boham, MD- Ultra Wellness Center
> -Ron Stram, MD- Center for Integrative Health & Healing
> -Scott Berliner, RPh-Natural Pharmacist, Nutritional Educator, Life Science
> Pharmacy
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

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