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Iodine, A Vital Trace Mineral You Cannot Live Without

Iodine, A Vital Trace Mineral You Cannot Live Without

Katherine M. Birkner, C.R.N.A., Ph.D.


Iodine is a key essential mineral that is necessary for many functions in the body.  While iodine is essential, it is often misunderstood and feared.  Iodine is one of the safest minerals to use for extended periods of time, and in doses up to 100,000 times the recommended daily allowance (RDA).

The word iodine derives from the Greek word, iodes, for violet. Iodine vapor is violet colored while under standard conditions, iodine crystals are bluish to black in color.  Iodine is generally seen in two form, iodine and iodide.  Iodide is the chemically reduced form of iodine that possesses an extra electron.  Both forms are needed for optimal function of every cell and organ in the body.    Yet about a third or 1.5 billion people are iodine deficient according to the World Health Organization.  Iodine deficiency results in mental retardation, goiter, increased infant and child mortality, infertility, and socioeconomic decline.  However, iodine deficiency is the most preventable form of mental retardation.

Iodine is needed for the formation of thyroid hormone as well as other hormones in the body.  Iodine plays an important role for proper functioning of the immune system.  Iodine possesses strong antibacterial, antiparasitic, antiviral, and anticancer properties.  Children must have iodine for proper growth and development.  The greatest concentration of iodine is found in the thyroid, but other areas with significant storage in the body include the salivary glands, cerebrospinal fluid and the brain, choroid plexus, gastric mucosa, breast, ovaries, and cilary body of the eye. The prostate gland also utilizes iodine and is necessary for proper function.

Therapeutic Actions of Iodine

  • Antibacterial
  • Anticancer
  • Antiviral
  • Antiparasitic
  • Increases pH
  • Thins mucus
 
Adapted from Iodine, Why you need it and why you cannot live without it by David Brownstein, 4th ed., pp.22
Iodine rates 47th in existence, making it a  rare element.  The majority of iodine is found in the sea water and ocean fish (sea bass, cod, haddock, and perch) and in sea organisms such as seaweed (kelp).  In the 1920’s iodine was added to salt to reduce the incidence of goiter in the great lake states.  The Michigan Dept. of Health and Ohio studies involved over 66,000 children.  The use of iodized salt  reduced the incidence of goiter by 75% vs. non-users.  Iodine as potassium iodide is added to salt at rate of 100 ppm (parts per million) yielding about 77 micrograms of iodine per gram of salt.  Yet about 50% of Americans do not use iodized salt due to salt restricted diets or low salt products. The RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) for iodine in adults is 150 micrograms per day.  The thyroid gland consumes about 70 to 100 micrograms of iodine daily for hormone synthesis.  It obtains the iodine from reusing the iodine released by the degradation of hormones, especially when iodine intake is inadequate.
Iodine was added to commercial baked goods as dough conditioner.  But in the 1980’s NIH questioned the safety of iodine and bromine replaced the iodine in baked goods.  Bromine is a halogen and interferes with the absorption of iodine.  Other halogens include fluoride and chloride. So if you eat commercially baked products, bromide in these goods inhibits your uptake of iodine. Fluoride is added to toothpaste and drinking water to prevent dental caries.  But fluoride is a toxic agent that impedes the thyroid gland from concentrating iodine.  If there is an iodine deficiency, research shows that fluoride is potentially more toxic.  Fluoride is added to many prescription medications.  Some of these medications include Paxil and Prozac (SSRI meds) used as antidepressants.  Reports show increased risk of breast cancer with this class of antidepressants.  Other drugs include Omniflox, Flonase, and Flovent.

 

Conditions Treated with Iodine

  • ADD/ADHD
  • Breast Disease
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Dupuytren’s contractures
  • Excess mucus production
  • Fatigue
  • Fibrocystic breasts
  • Goiter
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Headaches
  • Hypertension
  • Infections
  • Keloids
  • Liver diseases
  • Migraines
  • Nephrotic syndrome
  • Ovarian disease
  • Paratid duct stones
  • Peyronie's disease
  • Prostate disorders
  • Sebaceous cysts
  • Thyroid disorders
  • Vaginal infections

 Adapted from Iodine, Why you need it and why you cannot live without it by David Brownstein, 4th ed., pp.22

 

Dr. Brownstein, Ng, and Nusbaum confirm by iodine testing that 96% of about 5,000 patients are low in iodine.  Their testing coincides with FFP Labs that has tested over 30,000 people worldwide. 

So why the concern?  Low or deficient iodine levels contribute to many illnesses (see list of conditions treated with iodine previous page), but especially thyroid disorders, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, cancer (breast and prostate) and poor immune system function.  When iodine is ingested at levels greater than 100 times the RDA (approximately 15 mg per day), iodine binds to other tissues, fat, and proteins.  When iodine binds to fat-like substances, it forms d-iodolactone.  d-iodo-lactone is an anti-cancer substance that regulates apoptosis (cell death) and cell proliferation of the thyroid gland. 

With the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the meltdown of the nuclear reactors, the potential to absorb radioactive iodine increases.  The radioactive iodine destroys the thyroid gland as well as the exposure to radiation from the nuclear reactors. 

Iodine is available from PSC Products as Pi Iodine. 

 

Iodine Deficiency Symptoms

Test Yourself!

Cold extremities

Depression

Decreased mental capacity

Fatigue

Dry eyes

Goiter

Insomnia

Neurological defects

Tenderness over sternum

Hypothyroidism and impaired thyroid hormone synthesis

Weight gain

 Excerpt from What You Must KnowAbout Vitamins, Mineral, Herbs & More.  Pamela W. Smith, M.D.  pp. 85-86

 

References:

Abraham, G.E.  Iodine Supplementation Markedly Increase Urinary Excretion of Fluoride and Bromide.  Townsend Ltr., 238: 108–109, 2003

Brownstein, David.  Iodine Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It.  4th Ed. Medical Alternative Press: West Bloomfield, MI.  2009.

Iodine . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iodine

MCGilvery, R.W. and Gerald Goldstein.  Biochemistry, A Functional Approach.  W.B. Saunders Co: Philadelphia, PA, 1979, 711–712.

Smith, Pamela W..  What You Must Know About Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs, & More.  Square One Publisher: Garden City Park, NY 85–86, 2007.

Werbach, Melvyn R.  Nutritional Influences on Mental Illness. Third Line Press: Tarzana, CA, 118, 180-181, 261, 286, 1991.

This article is not intended to give medical advice or replace the services of a physician. It is for educational purposes only.

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