2. INTRODUCTION
Iodine is a trace mineral and an essential nutrient found naturally in the body.
Function
Metabolism - converting food into energy.
Normal thyroid function,
Production of thyroid hormones
Food Sources
Iodized salt
Seafood is naturally rich in iodine. Cod, sea bass, haddock, and perch are good
sources. Kelp is the most common vegetable seafood that is a rich source of
iodine.
Dairy products.
Other good sources are plants grown in iodine-rich soil
3. Lack of enough iodine (deficiency) may occur in places that have iodine-poor soil.
Many months of iodine deficiency in a person's diet may cause goiter or HT.
Without enough iodine, the thyroid cells and the thyroid gland become enlarged.
Deficiency happens more often in women than in men, and is more common in pregnant
women and older children. Getting enough iodine in the diet may prevent a form of
physical and mental retardation called cretinism. Cretinism is very rare in the U.S.
because iodine deficiency is generally not a problem.
Iodine poisoning is rare in the U.S. Very high intake of iodine can reduce the function of
the thyroid gland.
4. RDA
Infants
• 0 - 6 months: 110 micrograms per day (mcg/day)
• 7 - 12 months: 130 mcg/day
Children
• 1 - 3 years: 90 mcg/day
• 4 - 8 years: 90 mcg/day
• 9 - 13 years: 120 mcg/day
Adolescents and Adults
• Males age 14 and older: 150 mcg/day
• Females age 14 and older: 150 mcg/day
Specific recommendations depend on age, gender, and other factors (such as pregnancy).
Women who are pregnant or producing breast milk (lactating) need higher amounts. Ask your
health care provider which amount is best for you.
5. HISTORY
Iodine was found to treat goiter (swelling of the thyroid) by Coindet
(1774-1834). This was the first time a single item (iodine) was used to treat a
specific illness (goiter).
Iodine is a rarity in many soils, due to initial low abundance as a crust-element, and
also leaching of soluble iodide by rainwater, has led to many deficiency problems in
land animals and inland human populations. iodine deficiency affects about two
billion people and is the leading preventable cause of intellectual disabilties.
6. Study 1
In Akron, Ohio, Dr. Marine conducted the first large-scale study on using
iodine as a therapy to reduce goiter in people. Dr. Marine chose Akron due to
the high rate of goiter that was occurring in school aged girls. In the early
1900’s, approximately 56% of school-aged girls had goiter in Akron.There
was a 600% increase in goiter in adolescent girls versus boys. Why would
there be such a large difference in girls versus boys?
7. Why????
The first tissue to grow during puberty is breast tissue. Breast tissue
contains the second largest concentration of iodine (next to the thyroid
gland). Therefore, at puberty, as a girl begins to grow breast tissue her
iodine requirements become larger as compared to a boy.
8. Study 2
1. A control group of 2305 students where no iodine was given .
2. A treatment group of 2190 students who were given 9mg/day of sodium iodide
(averaged daily) for 2.5 years. This dose of iodine is nearly 100x the RDA for
iodine.
The results were stunning. The control group (no iodine) showed a 22% increase of
goiter. The treatment group had a significantly lowered 0.2% incidence of goiter.
Dr. Marine reported these results and the U.S. quickly implemented the iodization of
salt in the Great Lakes. The rest of the country adopted the policy of adding iodine
to salt shortly thereafter. Today, the World Health Organization actively promotes
the use of iodized salt to prevent goiter.
9. Myth 1: WE GET ENOUGH IODINE
FROM SALT
Iodine is added to table salt at 100ppm as potassium iodide, which amounts to 77μg
iodide/gm of salt.
The RDA for iodine is set at 150μg/day for adults and slightly more during pregnancy
and lactation [predominantly to reduce incidences of goiter]
The average American takes in 4-10gm/day of refined salt/day. If we do the math
(77μg/gm x 4-10gm/day=308-770μg/day)
The research is crystal clear that we DON’T get enough iodine from salt. An interesting
study completed in 1969 showed that only 10% of iodine in salt is bioavailable.
Therefore, if we go back to our original calculations, we can now see that iodized
salt provides somewhere between 30-77μg/day—which is markedly below the
RDA for iodine.
10. Myth 2: Iodine supplementation will
cause/worsen thyroid disorders
the declining iodine levels would be a good thing for preventing thyroid disease.
However, this has not been the case. As iodine levels have been falling over the
last 30 years, thyroid disorders, including hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s disease,
Graves’ disease and thyroid cancer have been increasing at near epidemic rates.
We would expect the opposite to occur—thyroid illnesses declining-- if iodine were
the cause of these disorders.
11. Consequences????
Not only is iodized salt a poor source of iodine, we have been conditioned to avoid
salt by the media and mainstream medicine. Presently, less than 50% of U.S.
households use salt. What is the consequence of this? Iodine levels have fallen
over 50% over the last 30 years according to the National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey.
12. OTHER REASONS...
Diets lacking in sea food can predispose to iodine deficiency.
Also, diets high in refined bakery products, such as breads, pastas, and cereals can
cause/worsen an iodine deficiency problem.
Oxidization if iodine from table salt may also lead to deficiency
13. Bakery products and bromine...
The food industry has given us refined, devitalized food that has left us, as a
population, nutrient deficient, obese and fatigued.
Up until the early 1970’s, iodine was added to bakery products as a dough conditioner.
In the early 1970’s, the food industry changed its practice and began substituting
bromine for iodine.
Bromine vs iodine
Bromine - goitrogen
14. Cause and effect...
The receptors that are supposed to bind iodine will now bind bromine. The
hormones that are supposed to contain iodine will now contain bromine. For
example, the thyroid gland produces thyroxine, or T4. The ‘4’ refers to the
number of iodine molecules on the thyroxine molecule. In the case of T4, there
are four iodine molecules attached to it. If we ingest too much bromine and too
little iodine, there is a good chance that our thyroid hormone will not contain
iodine, but instead be brominated with bromine. Regular thyroid blood tests
cannot distinguish between the two.
15. bromine toxicity?
Bromine has been shown to cause
delirium, psycho- motor retardation,
schizophrenia
Hallucination
feel dull and apathetic
difficulty concentrating.
Bromine can also cause depression, headaches and irritability.
There are multiple sources of bromine exposure in our toxic environment: hot tubs
and pools, as a fumigant for agriculture, fire retardant in carpets, clothing,
curtains, etc., brominated vegetable oil (in many sodas), and a constituent of
most computer and electronic equipment.
