Is Iodine Causing Obesity, Diabetes, and Cancer? You might be surprised.

We all need iodine.  In fact, we might need it more than we realize.  Research shows that there is a 90% chance that iodine deficiency is a major contributing factor to weight gain and/or decreasing weight loss.  This is especially true in women.  Along with its effect on weight, iodine also increases our body's sensitivity to insulin, aiding in the normalization of blood glucose levels.  With its dual impact in both the obesity and Type II Diabetes epidemics, iodine is moving back to the forefront of medical care where it was until the 1960's. 

What is Iodine?
Iodine is found in every organ and tissue in the body. It is found in high levels in the thyroid gland, liver, lungs, heart, and adrenal glands. It is found in the highest concentrations in fat and muscle tissue.

Iodine, a trace element, is required by humans for the synthesis of thyroid hormones and is essential for normal thyroid function. It attaches itself to our hormone receptors within the body and increases the sensitivity of the receptors to their associated hormones.

The thyroid is not the only organ in the body that needs iodine. In fact, every cell in the body needs iodine. It is particularly important for organs like the breasts, ovaries and uterus in women and the prostate in men. It helps keep these organs healthy and prevents cancer. Iodine is also necessary for the immune system. It is antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiparasitic. No microorganism has ever been shown to be resistant to iodine. 

Recommended Daily Allowance
The U.S. RDA of iodine is 150 micrograms (mcg) for adults, while 220 mcg and 290 mcg are recommended for pregnant and lactating women, respectively. These quantities were established to effectively prevent goiter but do not provide for the body's other needs for optimal thyroid, endocrine or immune system function, nor are they sufficient dosages for the prevention of cancer. 

70 years ago the average American ate 500-800 mcg of iodine daily.  By 1995 that level had dropped to 135 mcg! 

Recent studies by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicate low levels in more than 50% of the population (accounting for all demographic categories including ethnicity, region, economic status, race, and population density).

Deficiency
Iodine deficiency is now accepted as the most common cause of preventable brain damage in the world. The spectrum of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) includes mental retardation, hypothyroidism, goiter, and varying degrees of other growth and developmental abnormalities. WHO estimated that over 30% of the world’s population (2 billion people) has insufficient iodine intake.

Even more alarming, an estimated 31.5% of school-age children (6-12 years old) worldwide (266 million total children) has insufficient iodine intake. Major international efforts have produced dramatic improvements in the correction of iodine deficiency in the 1990s, mainly through the use of iodized salt in iodine-deficient countries. Today, 70% of households in the world use iodized salt. For more information on the international effort to eradicate iodine deficiency, visit the Web sites of the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD) or the WHO.

Causes of Iodine Deficiency
Worldwide, we are experiencing epidemic proportions of iodine deficiency due to a variety of reasons including deforestation, soil erosion, and poor farming practices that deplete minerals from the soil and yield iodine-deficient crops. There are other contributing factors that exacerbate this disturbing global problem.

Exposure to toxic chemicals hinders the uptake of iodine in the body as the toxins compete for iodine receptor sites and inhibit the body's ability to absorb this valuable mineral. These toxins include a group of elements known as halides (and their derivatives), all of which have similar chemical structures. The halides consist of bromide, fluoride, chloride and iodide, the latter being the only one with therapeutic effects in the body.

In the 1980s, bromine (a bromide derivative) replaced iodine as a bread dough ingredient. Bromine is a known breast carcinogen. This particular change by the food industry resulted in an epidemic of bromide toxicity and increases in thyroid disorders, thyroid cancer and other illnesses resulting from iodine deficiency. Bromine is also used in crop fumigation, pest control, in some carbonated drinks and several prescription medications.

Exposure to chlorine (the oxidized form of chloride), as well as fluoride found in toothpaste, the water supply and many pharmaceutical drugs, further compound the deficiency dilemma as these toxins compete with iodine for absorption by bodily tissue. Sufficient iodine saturation in bodily tissues prevents the binding of halides and allows for their elimination from the body.

Our thyroid needs iodine.  What does the thyroid do?
The thyroid regulates metabolism of your the entire body, controlling how quickly the body uses energy. With proper functioning, it helps the processes of your body work properly. It controls the generation of heat to keep you warm, produces hormones necessary for brain function, keeps your heart healthy, and regulates the immune system.

What is hypothyroidism, and what are the signs and symptoms?
Hypothyroidism, or a low functioning thyroid, is one of the most under-diagnosed and important conditions in the United States. A (hypo) low functioning thyroid has been called the “unsuspected illness” and accounts for a great number of complaints in children, adolescents, and adults.

• Low energy and fatigue or tiredness, especially in the morning, is frequent in these patients.
• Difficulty losing weight, and a sensation of coldness, especially of the hands and feet.
• Depression, slowness of thought processes, headaches.
• Swelling of the face or fluid retention in general.
• Dry, coarse skin, brittle nails, and chronic constipation are also common.
• In women, menstrual problems –such as PMS and menstrual irregularities including heavy periods and fertility problems – are further signs and symptoms.
• People with an under active thyroid may also have stiffness of joints, muscular cramps, shortness of breath on exertion, and chest pain.

What about the diabetes and iodine link?
There is evidence that iodine has a very beneficial effect on blood sugar control.  While using an iodine supplement to treat fibrocystic breast disease (FBD) a physician named Jorge Flechas  discovered a diabetes iodine connection. 

According to Dr. Flechas, "It was while treating a large 320-pound woman with insulin dependent diabetes that we learned a valuable lesson regarding the role of iodine in hormone receptor function." 

The patient had gone to the emergency room with a blood sugar of 1,380 mg/dl. She was started on insulin and was instructed to begin using a home glucometer.  Two weeks later, on her return office visit for a checkup of her insulin dependent diabetes she was informed that during her hospital physical examination she was noted to have Fibrocystic Breast Disease.

Dr. Flechas continued, "She was recommended to start on 50 mg of iodine(4 tablets) at that time. One week later she called us requesting to lower the level of insulin due to having problems with hypoglycemia. She was told to continue to drop her insulin levels as long as she was experiencing hypoglycemia and to monitor her blood sugars carefully with her glucometer."

Four weeks later during an office visit her glucometer showed her to have an average random blood sugar of 98!

"She then informed me that she had come off her insulin three weeks earlier and had not been taking any medications to lower her blood sugar. When asked what she felt the big change was, she felt that her diabetes was under better control due to the use of iodine.
Two years later and 70 pounds lighter this patient continues to have excellent glucose control on iodine 50 mg per day." 

Dr. Flechas explained the diabetes iodine interaction: "The iodine attaches itself to hormone receptors within the body and increases the sensitivity of the receptor to its associated hormone. In this patient's case, the iodine increased her sensitivity to the hormone insulin to the point of normalizing her blood sugars."

Iodine Sources

The body does not produce iodine and it is often difficult to get adequate levels from food; however, the ocean is an abundant source. Sea vegetables (sea weed) and fish are concentrated sources of iodine.  It is recommended to eat at least one serving of fish weekly. Because many types of fish have high levels of mercury, choosing the sources of your fish is very important. We know that cultures that consume high levels of sea vegetables and sea food have lower incidence rates of obesity, cancer and diabetes.  This is now being attributed to the iodine, pH alkalinity, high fiber, and low calorie density of these foods.  Yogurt, strawberries, eggs, and mozzarella cheese are additional sources of iodine rich foods.

Soil around oceans typically has sufficient iodine levels while inland and mountainous areas contain little or none. Sea vegetables, animals that graze near coastal areas, organic crops grown in iodine-rich soil (although soil content varies, even in organic crops), animal products that have had iodine added to feed, iodized salt, and supplements are among the best known sources of iodine.

Something to keep in mind; a toxic body is unable to absorb and utilize enough iodine from diet alone, and a deficiency usually requires supplementation. When the deficit is resolved, the body will gradually displace the toxic halides from tissues throughout the body, especially the thyroid and other major storage sites. Iodine's detoxifying effect also strengthens the immune system and helps balance hormones.

Whole Body Iodine Sufficiency
According to Thyroidologist Guy E. Abraham, MD, perhaps the world's most knowledgeable expert on iodine and the thyroid, there are tremendous benefits of whole body iodine sufficiency-when the body is saturated with sufficient iodine to supply all the tissues. He and his team of doctors have discovered some amazing things about current thyroid treatment, thyroid drugs, and iodine. The very first thing discovered is that iodine is the treatment of choice for hypo- and hyperthyroid problems-with or without goiter.

Doctors could get as high as a 90% cure rate with hyperthyroid (overactive thyroid) by using what would be considered high doses of iodine daily. Doses of six to 37 mgs daily seemed equally effective in resolving cases of hypothyroid (underactive thyroid). These doses, once considered normal, are now considered high by most doctors.

Whole body iodine sufficiency is also a critical means to counter the side effects of thyroid hormone medications (Synthroid, etc.). Long-term use of these drugs is associated with depletion of thyroid and tissue iodine levels, as well as increased rates of cancer. Fluorescent scanning of the thyroid clearly shows how drug and other medical thyroid therapies deplete the gland and body of critical iodine.

Therefore, Synthroid or other thyroid-destructive therapies should never be taken without iodine therapy-something you will never hear from your endocrinologist. If all Thyroidologists and endocrinologists were forced to fluorescence scan their patients' thyroid glands, they would then have to face up to the damages they are causing to these glands and their patients!

In addition to thyroid therapy, all thyroid patients should be on iodine therapy, with the goal to reach a whole body iodine sufficiency. When this state is reached, the following results (gathered using sophisticated lab testing, fluorescence screening, clinical measurements, and other medical testing procedures) have been observed:

• Goiter is reduced or eliminated.
• Stress on the pituitary gland with resultant high TSH readings is eliminated.
• Increased excretion of thyroid poisons and heavy metals occurs via the kidneys.
• The liver's detoxification mechanisms are enhanced.
• Obesity is more easily overcome-in fact, iodine therapy may be a critical and unknown factor in obesity.
• Diabetes and high blood pressure are more easily controlled.
• Breast tissue normalizes with decreased occurrences of fibrocystic breast disease.
• Menopausal symptoms are improved.
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome can be cured.
• Brain function is better, with less brain fog.
• Heart function is better, with reduced arrhythmia problems.
• And cancer rates, especially of the thyroid and breast, are reduced.

Additionally, through the Iodine Project studies, Dr. Abraham discovered that even patients with complete thyroidectomy (removal of the whole gland) benefited from iodine therapy. Iodine not only improved the thyroid gland, but the other target areas of the body where iodine and thyroid hormone are active.

The doctors in the Project found that patients who achieved iodine sufficiency were often able to resolve diabetes problems without insulin. They could normalize blood pressure without medication. Goiters were resolved. And those taking thyroid hormone medication could greatly reduce or completely eliminate these drugs.

The Iodine Test
Both Dr. Flechas and Dr. Abraham recommend a baseline iodine test before beginning any iodine treatment.  Luckily, there is a simple test. Buy a bottle of Tincture of Iodine at the drug store and paint a 2" square spot on your inner arm. If it disappears in less than eight hours, you desperately need iodine. If it disappears in 24 hours, you also need iodine. If it simply stays on your arm and begins to slowly fade in color after a full 24 hours, you have already reached iodine sufficiency.
You can retest yourself every one to two weeks while on therapy.

There is another Iodine test used by Dr. Guy Abraham and his colleagues
 Dr. Flechas uses the 24 Hour Iodine Loading test when assessing a patient's iodine sufficiency.

The principle is, if the body's level of iodine is adequate, most of the 50 mg iodine ingested at the start of the test will be excreted in the urine within 24 hours.

If the body shows insufficiency, a significant portion of the pretest iodine dose will be retained by the body. The amount excreted in the urine will be low.

They have found that any test result showing saturation lower than 90% suggests the patient is a candidate for iodine supplementation.

To order the Iodine-Loading Test, contact FFP labs at 877-900-5556 for the test kit. You may also email the lab at ffp_lab@yahoo.com to see if there is an Iodine Literate practitioner in your area or whether Dr. Flechas can be assigned your test results.

Recommended Iodine Protocol              
For decades Lugol iodine has been used by Thyroidologists. But liquid iodine has problems; it tastes bad, can upset your stomach, and can stain your clothes. There is a Lugol tablet on the market called Iodoral but it is sold only to physicians. This is the type of iodine Dr. Abraham uses.

Exactly what dose is best for you is difficult to determine. But we now know that what were formerly considered high doses of the right form of iodine are safe and effective. Some iodine-deficient people only need a tablet or two daily. For people with more serious iodine deficiency problems, iodine sufficiency must be achieved. This is typically accomplished with a daily dose of around 37 mgs for three months, plus 1500 mg, twice a day, of Vitamin C (ester C or buffered C). 

Dr. Flechas and Dr. Abraham have specialized in Iodine treatment and I recommend their protocols when choosing iodine treatment. 

Dr. Flechas Family Practice       http://cypress.he.net/~bigmacnc/drflechas/iodine.htm
Contact Information :
Jorge D. Flechas, M.D.
#80 Doctors Drive Suite 3
Hendersonville, NC 28792
Office: (828) 684-3233
Fax: (828) 684-3253
Email: ffplabnc1@live.com

Important Information About An Iodine Overdose

It is nearly impossible to suffer an iodine overdose from only consuming food sources.  High intakes of iodine that come from food are generally tolerated by most people without any difficulty.

An accidental iodine overdose from supplements or medications that exceed one gram can cause a burning sensation in the mouth, stomach and throat, abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, weak pulse, diarrhea and coma.

Consuming excessive amounts of iodine over an extended period of time can inhibit synthesis of the thyroid hormone. This leads to the thyroid gland becoming enlarged and an excessive intake of iodine can cause thyroid papillary cancer or hyperthyroidism.

It is very important to mention that if you happen to have autoimmune thyroid disease or if you have suffered from an iodine deficiency, you are more susceptible to risks of an excessive iodine consumption. Therefore, monitoring your intake is important to avoid an iodine overdose.

Symptoms of Iodine Overdose

• Abdominal pain
• Delirium
• Coughing
• Diarrhea
• Metallic taste
• Fever
• Throat pain
• Mouth pain
• No urine output
• Shock seizures
• Stupor
• Shortness of breath
• Vomiting
• Thirst

What should you do now?
The first thing I would recommend is to ask yourself if you have struggled with obesity, diabetes, hypo or hyperthyroidism, or any of their associated symptoms.  Then I would have an iodine test completed.  I mentioned a couple of options for that in the post.

If you determine that you are deficient in iodine, which most of us are, then I would begin adding food sources of iodine to my diet.  If you are significantly deficient then you will need additional supplementation.  I mentioned the treatment protocols of Dr. Flechas and Dr. Abraham and I highly recommend looking at their websites or contacting them.  There are many brands of iodine supplements on the market and I do not know enough about them to recommend any one brand to you.  Ask the experts.

Do your research, adjust your diet, and improve your health.  Oh, and share this post with your family and friends because there is good chance they are deficient too and don't know it!


 Sources:

http://www.healthy-eating-politics.com/diabetes-iodine.html

http://diabetesdietdialogue.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/diabetics-iodine-and-health-9/

http://www.oasisadvancedwellness.com/learning/iodine-fulfillment-therapy.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jk-E5qBJgE

http://www.healingmatters.com/Deadly%20Deficiency%20Deliberately%20Decreed.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/023107_iodine_body_thyroid.html

http://www.overdosesymptoms.com/iodine_overdose/iodine_overdose.html

http://www.communitym.com/article.asp?article_id=102227&article_type=0