Hold onto your Tutti-Frutti Hat! This article might just blow you away.
Let’s get into IODINE. This might be one of the most divisive micronutrients amongst medical professionals. Although it is agreed upon that everyone needs iodine intake to be healthy, the advised daily amount often falls into two camps. The first camp is the widely accepted Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adult men and women of 150 micrograms per day. The second camp is much much higher.
To understand this second camp, I highly recommend reading Dr. David Brownstein’s book Iodine: Why you need it, Why you can’t live without it (5th Edition). Dr. Brownstein has many years of clinical practice in healing people using iodine as a main tool. The book is filled with physiology, chemistry, iodine history and case studies. Page numbers throughout this article are in reference to this book. Another book that sheds light on iodine is Lynne Farrow’s The Iodine Crisis.
Starting at the beginning, the thyroid is the body’s first endocrine gland to develop, developing at around the third week of gestation. This exemplifies just how dependent the whole body is on the thyroid and the iodine compounds it produces. But that’s not really the beginning of this story is it? Long before that, us mammals lived in the ocean, swimming in a sea of minerals including iodine. As we emerged from this life-giving fluid, we were able to maintain our use of iodine thanks to our thyroid gland. Living near the ocean, iodine sources were sufficient for us. However, the further inland and higher in elevation we settled, the more iodine deficient we became. This eventually led to goiter development on our thyroids as the body tried to create more surface area for iodine use. Many old paintings featured subjects (often women) with goiters.
Our goiter issue has for the most part been taken care of thanks to iodized salt. But are we getting the amount that we truly need? Read on to find out.
Iodine’s Role in the Body
Iodine is found in each of the trillions of cells in the body (25). Without adequate iodine levels, life itself is not possible (25). It is essential for all thyroid hormones. T4 (thyroxine) contains four iodine atoms. T3 (triiodothyronine) contains three iodine atoms (69). The thyroid, breasts, prostate gland, gastrointestinal tract, salivary glands, bones, connective tissues, and fluids of almost the entire body utilize iodine (178-179). The adrenal glands, thymus gland, ovaries, hypothalamus and pituitary axis and the entire endocrine system depend on adequate iodine levels to function properly (181).
Iodine Deficiency Can Cause…
Iodine deficiency is a worldwide problem (43). Dr. Brownstein and colleagues report that 96% of the 6,000 patients they tested had iodine deficiency (190). This can result in many severe medical conditions including reduced intellectual ability, goiter, infertility, multiple sclerosis, and myelin disorders (43). It predisposes one to an increased risk of breast, prostate, endometrial and ovarian cancer (43). Iodine deficiency before pregnancy can lead to offspring issues of cretinism (189), mild to severely lowered IQ (189), sudden infant death syndrome (43), decreased childhood and neonatal survival rate (43, 194), ADHD (194), depression (194), dwarfism (194), and poor height and bone maturation (194).
Conditions Iodine Can Treat
The therapeutic actions of iodine are: antibacterial, antiparasitic, antiviral, elevates pH (alkalizes), and a mucolytic agent (breaks up mucus) (26). Iodine can be used to treat ADD/ADHD, atherosclerosis, breast disease, Dupuytren’s contracture, excess mucus production, fatigue, fibrocystic breasts, goiter, hemorrhoids, headaches and migraine headaches, hypertension, infections, keloids, liver diseases, nephrotic syndrome, ovarian disease, parotid duct stones, Peyronie’s, prostate disorders, sebaceous cysts, thyroid disorders, and vaginal infections (26). There are testimonials that iodine has treated people’s Raynaud’s disorder, poor vision, brain fog, menstrual pain, acne, spider veins, fordyce, excessive weight, and anxiety. When iodine is taken at amounts greater than 15 mg/day it can then bind to certain proteins and fats that can be used by the body for apoptosis – programmed cell death. This will act as an anti-cancer substance in that cells will die when they should and not grow out of control, as cancer does (103).
The Medical Medium, Anthony William, explains the underlying causes of most chronic illnesses/ “autoimmune” diseases in his books. Most of the time, the root causes are low-grade viral infections and heavy metal toxicity. Iodine helps to remove metals from the body while simultaneously killing viruses. Therefore the breadth of illnesses and symptoms that iodine can treat is wide.
Thyroid Disorders
Hypothyroidism is occurring at epidemic rates. However, thyroid hormone supplementation should not be instituted without measuring iodine status. Taking thyroid hormone when iodine deficiency is present can further deplete iodine by increasing the body’s metabolic rate (89-90). This increases the risk for breast cancer (and likely other glandular cancers: ovary, uterine and prostate) (90, 167).
Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) and Iodized Salt
In the United States, iodine’s RDA is set to prevent goiters, which it does very well (45). The RDA for adult males and females is 150 mcg/day. During pregnancy it is 220 mcg/day and while lactating it is 290 mcg/day (45). In the United States, iodine is added to salt to provide 77 mcg of iodine per gram of salt (44), with the goal of providing the RDA for iodine (44). The average salt intake in the United States is 5 grams/day, which would supply 385 mcg of iodine (45). However, the iodine in iodized salt is only 10% bioavailable. We can’t absorb 90% of it (47). On top of this, many people have either reduced their salt intake or switched to more natural salts, like sea salt or Himalayan pink salt, which is a good choice. Refined salt has its minerals removed and is exposed to toxic chemicals to make it white (47). Needless to say, consuming refined salt for the iodine is pointless and harmful. Check out another of Dr. Brownstein’s books, Salt Your Way to Health, for more information on salt. Read on to find out why the RDA is not sufficient.
Understanding Halides
Here are some facts about halogens. The halogens are a group of elements in the periodic table. They are located to the right of the other nonmetals and to the left of noble gases. Elements in the halogen group have seven electrons in their outer shells giving them many unique properties. The halogens are fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine. Halogens share many similar properties. They all form acids when combined with hydrogen. They readily combine with metals to form salts. They are highly reactive and electronegative. They all exist as diatomic molecules (two atoms) when in their pure form.
Under standard conditions, the halogens exist in all three main phases of matter: Iodine and astatine are solids; bromine is a liquid; and fluorine and chlorine are gases. The only other element to be a liquid at room temperature is mercury. All of the halogens can be found in the Earth’s crust. Fluorine and chlorine are fairly abundant, with iodine and bromine being somewhat rare. Astatine is extremely rare and is considered one of the rarest naturally occurring elements on Earth.
The name halogen comes from the Greek words “hals”, meaning “salt”, and “gen”, meaning “to make”. Fluorine is considered one of the most reactive elements in existence. Fluorine gas is deadly. Breathing air with only a small concentration of 0.1% fluorine can cause death. Simple compounds that contain halogens are called halides. The first halogen to be isolated and recognized as an element was chlorine. Bromine liquid evaporates easily at room temperatures emitting an orange vapor. Bromine has a very strong and bad odor. It gets its name from the Greek word “bromos” which means “stench”.
All halides compete with one another for absorption and receptor binding in the body (49). Thus exposure to other halides decreases our iodine levels.
Bromine
Bromine was discovered in 1826 (218). We take in bromine (or bromide) from many different sources. It is used as an antibacterial agent in pools and hot tubs, as a fumigant for agriculture, fumigant for termites and other pests, in carbonated drinks as brominated vegetable oils, and in many prescription medications (medication list provided on page 220) (219). In the 1980’s iodine was replaced with bromine as an anti-caking agent in bakery products, due to an erroneous concern of getting too much iodine (222). So if you enjoy breads, baked goods and pasta, you are getting a large dose of bromine in North America. Many countries have banned this use of potassium bromate. It is also used in plastics and anything treated with flame retardant chemicals.
Bromine is rapidly absorbed into the body (218). It is toxic and has no therapeutic use (49). It is structurally very similar to iodine and therefore competes for receptor sites in the body. Thus the body can only eliminate bromine if there is a sufficient amount of iodine (218). Bromine is a known “goitrogen” (promotes goiter formation) because it competes with iodine (49). It can bind to iodine receptors in the breasts and cause breast cancer (49-50). It disrupts normal thyroid function and the thyroid hormone can be brominated rather than iodinated, leading to Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism (218). Bromine intoxication has been shown to cause delirium, psychomotor retardation, schizophrenia and hallucination (218). Bromine can make you feel dull and apathetic and have difficulty concentrating. Bromine can cause severe depression, headaches and irritability (218). Bromide toxicity is very common. Dr. Brownstein reports that 100% of the more than 1,000 patients that he has tested for bromine levels were in the high range (220).
Fluoride
Fluoride is put in the drinking water of many North American cities. It has been linked to dental fluorosis (discoloration of the teeth), hip fractures, bone cancer, lowered intelligence, kidney toxicity, and thyroid problems (224). There has been no studies that prove that long-term ingested fluoride has any positive effects (224). Fluoride is in many prescription medications (medications list on page 226) (225).
Chloride
Chloride is an important element in our extracellular fluid (226). However, chlorine (the oxidized form of chloride) is toxic (226). It is added to swimming pools and hot tubs, municipal water supply and sucralose (227). A byproduct of chlorine use is the production of dioxin, one of the most toxic carcinogens known to mankind. Dioxin does not readily break down in the environment (227). Chlorine and its byproducts have been linked to birth defects, cancer, reproductive disorders including stillbirth, and immune system breakdown (227).
Perchlorate
Perchlorate is found in nature and is man-made (50). It contains one atom of chlorine and four atoms of oxygen (51). It is used in air bags, leather tanning, fireworks and rocket fuel (228). There is high contamination of this molecule in the ground water of the United States and in the Colorado River, which is used for crop irrigation (228-229). It also displaces iodine in body (227). At low levels it has been found to cause thyroid cancer, goiter, hypothyroidism, disruption of menstrual cycle, weakening of immune system, breast disease, mental retardation in newborns, neurological problems and poor fetal and neonatal development (227-228).
Natural Sources of Iodine
Needless to say, it is paramount to keep up ones iodine levels, not only for proper functioning of internal systems, but also to compete with all of the toxic halide exposure. Before I go into how to properly supplement with iodine, I will run through the natural sources of iodine and why they are not sufficient.
Seaweeds such as kelp, nori and dulse contain iodine. However these contain heavy metals from the ocean and it is likely that some of the iodine becomes gaseous and escapes by the time it is consumed, as mentioned by Dr. Brownstein in this short article. Fish and seafood contain some iodine. But eating them is problematic because of acid forming animal meat, plastics/metals/toxins that build up from the ocean, parasites, not enough iodine and animal cruelty. Animal meat, eggs and milk raised on vegetables or grains grown by the ocean have some iodine too. But meat is acid forming and supporting cruelty. Fruits and vegetables grown near the ocean contain some iodine. But even there our soils have been depleted and contaminated.
How to Supplement With Iodine
Supplementing with iodine is the only way to get sufficient amounts. Use a Lugol’s iodine solution, which has potassium iodide, iodine and distilled water. J. Crow is a good brand. Although the dose should be individualized, Dr. Brownstein states that 12-50 mg/day is good for most adults – that’s milligrams not micrograms. But if you have an illness, especially cancer, then the dose may need to be higher in order to help. Start slow with iodine. Dr. Brownstein does not suggest supplementing a child with iodine without working with an iodine-knowledgeable health care provider who can properly test levels. In his experience, the average child dosage is 0.25 mg/kg/day (211). The preferred test is the Iodine-Loading Test where you take 50 mg of iodine/iodide and collect your urine for 24 hours. Research has shown that a 90% excretion rate would indicate an iodine sufficient state (260). Here is a list of some iodine-literate practitioners.
Detox Symptoms
It is likely that you will experience bromide and toxin detox symptoms when starting to use iodine, as halides and toxins will become displaced, stirred up and removed. These are some such symptoms, as listed by Lynne Farrow in The Iodine Crisis: eye lid twitching, foot twitching, runny nose (clear fluid), headache, sedation, tingling in hands and feet, dark thoughts (e.g. there is no reason to live), depression (e.g. there is no reason to get out of bed), anxiety, emotionality, mouth and tongue sores and cuts or “sore mouth”, “unusual” acne, acne-like eruptions without coniform (some iodine users find zinc helps bromide acne), skin splits, hair loss, brain fog, leg and hip ache (feels like arthritis), rash (bromaderma), metallic taste, sinus ache, cherry angiomas, lethargy, odd swallowing sensation, body odour (because bromide smells bad), unusual urine odour or colour, dry mouth, urethral spasm, frequent urination (mistaken for urinary infection), diarrhea, constipation, vision changes, irritability, and increased salivation. Dr. Brownstein also lists fatigue, muscle aches and heart palpitations (246). Other detox symptoms can include: dizziness, lightheaded feeling, tension, muscle stiffness, dry skin, teeth pain, intense dreams, decreased emotion, worse menstrual symptoms, flare up of usual symptoms, vision abnormalities, ringing in ears, increased or suppressed appetite, nausea or racing heart.
Dr. Brownstein has several recommendations to help mitigate these detox symptoms. He suggests 1-1.5 tsp/day of unrefined salt. The chloride in the salt helps to displace bromine in the kidneys (245). As well as 3,000-6,000 mg/day of vitamin C (245). I would recommend to go slow with iodine, take a day or two off as needed, eat lots of fruit, drink lots of reverse osmosis water, take baths and ingest Vimergy brand spirulina.
The Importance of Selenium
Adequate selenium levels are necessary for regulating thyroid function and iodine metabolism (139). It is also required for the activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase. The more toxic agents, such as pesticides, mercury, chlorine and bromine that we come in contact with, the more glutathione peroxidase is needed to help detoxify these agents. Selenium deficiency can be the rate-limiting step in the body’s production of glutathione (141). Selenium has a narrow margin of safety. Symptoms of selenosis include: hair loss, fatigue, irritability, garlic breath odor and mild nerve damage (142). 100 – 400 mcg/day is a safe range (142). Each Brazil nut has about 90.6 mcg of selenium. I recommend eating 2 or 3 a day.
Other Resources
Website: Iodine Research: Resource network of the iodine movement
Article: from Goop.com – The Mysteries of the Thyroid
Video: The Iodine Doctor: 97% Are Iodine Deficient (How Much You Need)
Video: Iodine for Optimal Performance & Cognition
Video: Iodine: The Life Changing Supplement | Part 2
In Conclusion
Supplement with a good amount of iodine. Eat a few Brazil nuts. Use fruit, unrefined salt and spirulina to help with detoxing. Feel better.