Iodine Health Topic

Learn More About Iodine

1. Iodine Overview by the Linus Pauling Institute

   Iodine is required by humans for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Iodine is an essential component of the thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), and is therefore essential for normal thyroid function. Thyroid hormones regulate a number of physiologic processes, including growth, development, metabolism, and reproductive function. Thyroid enlargement, or goiter, is one of the earliest and most visible signs of iodine deficiency. Some foods contain substances that interfere with iodine utilization: casava, some species of millet and cruciferous vegetables (for example, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts) and some soybean isoflavones.

2. Iodine on MedLine Plus

   Chronic iodine deficiency can lead to numerous health problems in children and adults, including thyroid gland dysfunction (including goiter) and various neurologic, gastrointestinal, and skin abnormalities. Iodine deficiency in pregnant or nursing mothers can lead to significant neurocognitive deficits in their infants. "Cretinism" or severe mental retardation is a rare outcome of severe iodine deficiency during early development. Growth stunting, apathy, impaired movement, or speech/hearing problems may occur. Iodine deficiency is rare in industrialized countries such as the United States, due to the enrichment of table salt and cattle feed with iodine.

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3. Role of Thyroid Hormones

   One important function of thyroid hormone (TH) is helping the body convert food into energy and heat. TH elevates the heart rate to meet the increased oxygen needs. TH also regulates body temperature. Injury and illness lower TH levels. TH imbalance has a profound effect on cardiovascular fitness because TH helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Estrogen partially blocks the efficiency of TH, so women compensate by producing more TH than men. TH plays a major role in the development in all vertebrates. In humans, thyroid hormone plays a notable role in brain development from the middle of pregnancy to the second year of life. Hypothyroidism is the second leading cause of high cholesterol, after diet.

4. The High Cholesterol Thyroid Connection: Undiagnosed Thyroid Disease May Be the Reason for Your High Cholesterol

   As many as ten million Americans with high cholesterol levels may not know that their cholesterol is elevated due to undiagnosed thyroid problems. Undiagnosed and undertreated hypothyroidism can cause elevated cholesterol. The Food and Drug Administration recommend thyroid testing in patients with high cholesterol levels.

5. Perchlorate Controversy Calls for Improving Iodine Nutrition

   Perchlorate is a water pollutant that can potentially interfere with thyroid function. Perchlorate accumulates in fresh vegetables, such as lettuce, if they are irrigated with polluted water. The chemical is of concern because it amplifies thyroid problems in people who are iodine deficient. Some scientists have concluded that vegetarians, and especially vegans, can be more susceptible to thyroid problems as a result of perchlorate exposure because they may have lower iodine intakes than the general public. Impaired thyroid function is especially problematic for women who are pregnant or nursing a child.

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6. Vegans and Iodine

   North American vegans should take a modest iodine supplement; 75-150 mcg every day or every other day should be enough.

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7. Thyroid Hormones: Pregnancy and Fetal Development

   Thyroid hormones are critical for development of the fetal and neonatal brain, as well as for many other aspects of fetal growth. Hypothyroidism in either the mother or fetus frequently results in fetal disease; in humans, this includes a high incidence of mental retardation.

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8. Nonradioactive Iodide Effectively Induces Apoptosis in Genetically Modified Lung Cancer Cells

   This is the first report demonstrating that a therapeutic dose of nonradioactive iodide has potent efficacy and high selectivity against lung cancer when used in combination with genetic modification of cancer cells to express the NIS/TPOgenes

   SCIENTIFIC STUDY

9. Iodine for Health

   There is growing evidence that Americans would have better health and a lower incidence of cancer and fibrocystic disease of the breast if they consumed more iodine. Iodine effectively relieves signs and symptoms of fibrocystic breast disease. Iodine also induces apoptosis, programmed cell death. Its anti-cancer function may well prove to be iodine's most important extrathyroidal benefit. Iodine removes toxic chemicals — fluoride, bromide, lead, aluminum, mercury — and biological toxins, suppresses auto-immunity, strengthens the T-cell adaptive immune system, and protects against abnormal growth of bacteria in the stomach.

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10. Frequently Asked Questions on Potassium Iodide (KI)

    FDA page on Potassium Iodide.

11. Potassium Iodide as a Thyroid Blocking Agent in Radiation Emergencies (PDF File)

    FDA page on Potassium Iodide and Radiation Preparedness.

12. Radiation Emergencies

    FDA page on Radiation Emergencies.

13. Differences And Dangers Of Potassium Iodide And Iodate

    Collection of information from Drugs.com and the CDC about Potassium Iodide.

Tags: odine, iodine and vegans, iodine deficiency, iodine and goiter, iodine and seaweed, iodine and fetal development, iodine and high cholesterol, iodine and cancer research, potassium iodide, iodine mineral, iodine supplement, iodine nutritional supplement, iodine dietary supplement, iodine mineral supplement

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