Iodine & Iodine Testing to the Rescue

Jackie Harvey

WHY TEST for IODINE Insufficiency ?

We are becoming deficient !!• low iodine in the soil

• salt free diets

• excess Bromine, Fluorine and Chlorine in our world are competing with Iodine absorption

• many with low Thyroid function and on synthroid meds

“IodineWhy You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without

It.” David Brownstein MD, 2nd edition, 2006

• Recent Study…Of 3000 patients (USA) tested

• 90% were found to be deficient.

Negative THYROID REPLACEMENT Result

“Approximately 600,000 elderly individuals have iatrogenic

hyperthyroidism from thyroid hormone overdose, putting them at

risk for atrial fibrillation and osteoporosis.”

Cooper DS, Ridqway EC. Thought on prevention of thyroid disease in the United States. Thyroid 2002 Oct;12(10):925-9

THYROID HORMONE REPLACEMENT

• Depletes the body’s stores of iodine

– Shown by fluorescent scan

• Increased risk of cancer with long-term use

• Recommend all thyroid medications be used in conjunction with iodine!

SYMPTOMS of LOW Thyroid

• Are you often fatigued?

• Do you get frequent infections? • Do you have multiple allergies? • Are you always cold? Or cold hands and feet?• Does your hair fall out? • Do you have difficulty losing weight?• Do you suffer from headaches?• Are you constipated?• Do you have PMS?• Do you have a brain fog?

IODINE IS DEPLETED BY:

• FLUORIDE

• CHLORINE

• BROMINE

• THYROID HORMONE

• PESTICIDES

Iodine was considered so ESSENTIAL …

• That it was added to Bread as a supplement (until twenty years ago)

• Now the toxin: Bromine is added instead– Which interferes with iodine uptakes and

ultimately depletes the body of iodine

Iodine

• Discovered by Frenchman; Bernard Courtois in 1804

• The name originates from the greek word “iodes” which means violet.

Thyroid Hormone PathwayPituitary (Brain)

↓

TSH

↓

Thyroid

↓

T4 (inactive)

↓

T3 (active)

Thyroid Hormone PathwayPituitary (Brain)

↓

TSH

↓

Thyroid

↓

T4 (inactive)

↓ IODINE

T3 (active)

IODINE

Sufficient levels of Iodide/Iodine are required for adequate thyroid hormone production.

Iodine insufficiency effects: •an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)•fatigue •reduced cognition •constipation•low libido•slow pulse•brittle hair/nails and hair loss•fibrocystic breasts

•(Similar to symptoms of low Thyroid!!)

IODINE and our BreastsEvidence-based research supports the possibility that

breast cancer may be an iodine deficiency disease.

IODINE accomplishes the following:

1. Desensitizes estrogen receptors in the breast.

2. Reduces estrogen production in overactive ovaries.

3. Reduces fibrocystic breast disease (FDB) which often precedes breast cancer

4. Causes more cell death than the chemo drug Fluorouracil.

Iodine Physiology• Is detected in every organ and tissue in

the body … Especially high levels are found in the:

• Thyroid• Liver• Lung• Heart• Adrenals

– And highest concentrations in fat and muscle tissue

– Breast tissue– Sweat glands– Stomach tissue

Summary of established conditions responsive to orthoiodosupplementation

• Fibrocystic breasts• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome• Hypothyroid• Hyperthyroid• Cognitive dysfunction (Brain fog)• Diabetes• Arrhythmias (supra-ventricular, e.g. atrial

fib.)• Breast Cancer preventionFlechas JD. Orthoiodosupplementation in a Primary Care Practice. The Original Internist, 2005; 12(2):89-96

Summary of possible conditions responsive to orthoiodosupplementation

• Hypertension

• Cardiovascular Disease

• Brain Fog

• Breast Cancer

• Liver Dysfunction

Iodine Testing

• Tincture of Iodine/skin test;

Not precise-but lay-person can perform at home.

– Paint tincture on a 2 inch spot on arm-if it disappears in less than eight hours…You are severely deficient in iodine. If it disappears in 24 hours you also need iodine…if it stays on your arm and begins to slowly fade in color after a full 24 hours, you have reached iodine sufficiency.

• Urine Iodine Loading– Collect baseline “spot urine. Then take 50 mg of iodine and

collect all urine in next 24 hour period. If you secrete out 90% or more iodine you have iodine sufficiency. If the percentage is less than 90% you are iodine deficient

URINE TESTING

This is a 2 part test: • The SPOT test is the first urine void of the morning. From this

first void, the level of iodine is measured in the urine, to establish a baseline.

• The LOADING test is a measurement of whole body sufficiency for iodine. 50mg of Iodine/Iodide supplement (Iodoral®) is provided with the kit and is ingested (after the spot test) and a 24 hour collection is started at the next void. From the 50mg ingested for the loading test, the LOADING EXCRETION results will show how many milligrams of Iodide are excreted, and what percentage of the 50mg ingested, is excreted.

TEST KITS

• Kit includes all collection materials and the means to ship the specimen to the lab.

• Full collection instructions are included. • Results are provided within 10-15 days from the

time the test was received at the lab. • A review can be requested from our Help For

Hormones Team members. Iodine Test kits are available from Help for Hormones website.

• TEAM members may stock test kits if they wish.

Iodine’s Widespread Use

From 1900-1960’s nearly every physician in the United States used Iodine (Lugol’s solution) supplements in their practice for both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid conditions… all with excellent results.

Why Lugols (formulation) is effective.

• Dr Abrahams notes that the research shows that the thyroid gland prefers Iodide

• The other organs (breasts etc.) prefer elemental Iodine.

*both forms are present in equal parts in Lugols solution

Forms of Iodine—inorganic, organic

• Liquid (Lugol’s solution, SSKI)

–Tastes bad, can upset your stomach and will stain clothing

• Coated Tablets over come these problems - Iodoral

Lugols solution

• 10% iodine(I2), 10% potassium iodide (KI) in 80% distilled water with a total iodine content of 130mg/ml

• was OTC Until AUGUST/2007, when the DEA began regulation of Lugol’s and any other iodine solutions containing greater than 2.2% iodine.

• Also known as IKI (Iodine Potassium Iodide), Strong solution and Aqueous Iodine Solution BP.

Therapeutic Protocol after testing for iodine deficiency

50 mg/day PO for ninety days

RE: TEST

12.5 mg/day PO maintenance

With 3000mg per day Vit C

(see Our expanded protocol)

Therapeutic Protocol after testing for iodine deficiency

Possible DETOX symptoms (spilling Bromine, chlorine and Hg)

Feeling funky, e.g.Headaches

MalaiseLoss of appetiteSleep Difficulty

*Reduce dose for two weeks and retry.

Laboratory Response to Orthoiodosupplementation

• TSH generally goes down. TSH may go up and likely represents the bodies attempt to make more sodium iodine symporters (iodine channels), aka, NIS

• Free T4 usually goes down• Free T3 usually goes down• Majority of patients lose fat and gain muscle

massFlechas JD. Orthoiodosupplementation in a Primary Care Practice. The Original Internist, 2005; 12(2):89-96

FOOD SERVING Iodine (mcg)

Salt (iodized) 1 gram 77

Cod 3 ounces 99

Shrimp 3 ounces 35

Fish sticks 2 fish sticks 35

Tuna, in oil 3 ounces 17

Milk (cow’s) 1 cup (8 oz) 56

Egg, boiled 1 large 12

Navy beans ½ cup 32

Potato c peel 1 medium 60

Turkey breast 3 ounces 34

Seaweed ¼ ounce, dried >4,500

Allergic ReactionsExecutive Summary

• Anaphylactoid reactions to RCM (Radiocontrast Material) should not be considered evidence of KI allergy.

• Allergic contact dermatitis from iodine-containing antibacterial preparations should not be considered evidence of IgE antibody mediated KI allergy or sensitivity.

Academy Position Statement: The Risk of Severe Allergic Reactions from the Use of Potassium Iodide for Radiation Emergencies. American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunonology. February 24, 2004.

Allergic ReactionsExecutive Summary (cont’d)

• IgE antibody mediated allergy to seafood should not be considered evidence of KI allergy or sensitivity.

• Physicians should ensure that persons are not allergic to inactive ingredients/components of the KI formulation prescribed.

Academy Position Statement: The Risk of Severe Allergic Reactions from the Use of Potassium Iodide for Radiation Emergencies. American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunonology. February 24, 2004.

Allergic ReactionsOBSERVATIONS ON IODIDE

SENSITIVITYPeacock LB and Davison HM. Ann Allergy. 1957 Mar-Apr;15(2):158-164

• Retrospective study of 502 asthmatics.• 81 reactions to KI reported (16.1%); 68

discontinued therapy (13.5%); 13 continued at a lower dose (2.6%).

• Dose ranges (gms): Single 0.53 to 1.87; Daily 1.6 to 5.6. Note: KI supplementation is typically 0.012.5 to 0.050 gm/day

Allergic ReactionsOBSERVATIONS ON IODIDE SENSITIVITY

Peacock LB and Davison HM. Ann Allergy. 1957 Mar-Apr;15(2):158-164

• Rash (papular) 42 (51%), Nausea 10 (12%), Metallic taste 7 (8.6%), Salivary gland edema 7 (8.6%), Goiter 5 (6%), Nasal sxs 5 (6%), Increased asthma 3 (4%)

• Hoarseness, diarrhea, throat edema and sore throat: 2 ea (2%)

• Insomnia, thinning hair, bladder/kidney sxs, headache, chills fever, vomiting, nervousness, aching jaw, herpes and burning in mouth and nose: 1 ea (1%) .

Allergic ReactionsOBSERVATIONS ON IODIDE

SENSITIVITYPeacock LB and Davison HM. Ann Allergy. 1957 Mar-Apr;15(2):158-164

No Anaphylactic Reactions Reported!

Iodine allergies to routine dosages are essentially a Myth!

Thyroidectomy

• Even patients with no thyroid gland benefited from iodine therapy: