Iodine Supplements

Since the eighteen hundreds, iodine has been used in medicine. Iodine supplements are a newer item and it may be necessary due to the decrease of iodine in our food. Iodine deficiency can be the cause of many symptoms including fibrocystic breast disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, sub clinical hypothyroidism, autoimmune thyroid issues, Graves Disease, hypertension, hormone resistance and even obesity.

Over the years iodine has been removed from our foods, mostly baked goods. The salt used in bread had iodine in it, but was removed after a study, Wolff Chaikoff, stated that iodine was potentially harmful in amounts between 2-3 mg over two weeks and actually decreased the ability of the thyroid to uptake iodine. Newer research shows that higher levels of iodine can be tolerated and helpful and iodine can be harmful depending on the form. The organic form is both toxic and radioactive and used as a contrast media in radiographic studies. The inorganic form is available in two forms, the oxidized form is iodine and the reduced form is iodide.

The thyroid can uptake and concentrate iodine. Breast tissue is another area where iodine can be concentrated. It has been shown that breast tissue is protected from the harmful effects of estrogen by competitively inhibiting the receptor sites for it. A typical traditional Japanese diet will average 13.8 mg of iodine a day, and Japanese women have a very low incidence of breast cancer and even fibrocystic breast disease. Understand that this may be only one aspect of lowering the incidence of these conditions.
Relating to the thyroid, iodine is used to synthesize thyroid hormone. Typical American diets are very low in iodine and have a high incidence of fibrocystic breast disease, breast cancer and thyroid dysfunction. Instead of ingesting iodine, the American population has been exposed to halides and halogens which will compete for iodide and iodine binding sites respectively. This is how poor thyroid hormone can be produced causing a hypothyroid condition and thyroid replacement therapy will only have a short term beneficial effect.

As recently as 2009 Austrailia has mandated the use of iodine in bread stating that it is important in maintaining and even developing brain tissue. Click here for the article http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/09/2709102.htm


Some common functions of iodine in the human body include:

* Make thyroid hormone

* Identifies abnormal cells in the body

* Detoxifies certain chemicals

* Auto-immune regulation, helps proteins to be non-reactive to the immune system


Please be careful and consult your physician before taking an iodine supplement. There are many instances in thyroid dysfunction where iodine supplementation will actually make the condition worse. You should always consult a knowledgeable, credentialed healthcare professional prior to starting or continuing iodine supplementation.


For more information on thyroid issues please see http://www.fortcollinsnutrition.com/Thyroidsymptomsinwomen.html


For more information on thyroid blood testing please see
http://www.fortcollinsnutrition.com/thyroidbloodtest.html

About the Author
Dr Bruno pursued and received her Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine from National University of Health Sciences in Chicago where she concurrently attained her Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN).
Dr. Bruno has dedicated herself to working with female health issues as well as promoting a prevention model of health care for all of her patients. She addresses nutritional issues including but not limited to: weight loss, hormone imbalances, fibromyalgia, pre and post natal needs, food allergies and fatigue.