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blimey
Iodine: The Universal & Holistic Super Mineral
By Dr. Gabriel Cousens, MD
Recently, a popular authority on nutrition and alternative health publically stated that the highest amount of daily iodine intake should be no more than 400 micrograms. That surprised me. For the sake of higher public good, I would like to suggest a variety of scientific and holistic reasons that a significantly higher amount of iodine should be used. His recommendation is only slightly higher than the FDA recommendation, which is 150 to 290 micrograms daily, dependent upon age, gender and life cycle. This is dramatically less than some of the leading iodine medical experts suggest, which is closer to, at least, 12 to 18 milligrams daily, which is approximately 45 times higher. Drs. Abraham and Brownstein, also experts, suggest 12 to 50 milligrams daily and up to 100 milligrams per day for diabetics. Why is there this discrepancy?
There is some marginally relevant data supporting common concerns about excess iodine; namely, that there may be a transient (26 to 40 hours) hypothyroidism as described by Dr. Brownstein in his book, “Iodine: Why You Need It. Why You Can’t Live Without It.” However, a one- to two-day transient decrease in thyroid function is physiologically irrelevant and not a sign of hypothyroidism in the bigger holistic picture. There is also an increase in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with increased iodine, which may last up to six months. This, again, is not a sign of hypothyroidism. This is related to the fact that the whole body is deficient in iodine and TSH stimulates the production of sodium-iodide-symporter (NIS). Without adequate NIS, iodine could not enter the cells and be used. NIS is a carrier system into all the cells, and when this system becomes deficient, the whole body becomes deficient. The key is that people who increase their iodine intake do not have signs of hypothyroidism (such as fatigue, hair loss, headaches, weight gain, weakness and dry skin) and they maintain normal T3 and T4 levels.
By looking at the overall holistic iodine story, we can create a fuller, more accurate understanding of this discussion. Iodine is found in every single one of our body’s hundred trillion cells. Without adequate iodine levels, life is impossible. Iodine is the universal health nutrient that brings health on many levels.
It is interesting to note, when addressing the question of safe dosage, that higher iodine levels have been used in studies since the early 1900s. For example, from 1917 to 1922, Dr. David Marine proved that iodine reversed goiter in a study in which 2,000 schoolgirls were given an equivalent of 18.6 milligrams daily (18,600 micrograms/day) for 2.5 years with a dramatic success rate.
In 2003, Dr. Zhang showed that potassium iodide reversed lung cancer tumors in mice. The total amount administered was 100 milligrams (100,000 micrograms) daily for 20 days, and this is approximately 50 times more than the amount Wolff–Chaikoff recommended in 1948. The study lasted for 60 days: 34 days to grow 5 mm tumors and approximately 26 days for the lung cancer tumors to significantly decrease.
In 1993, Dr. Ghent administered to 1,368 patients five milligrams (5,000 micrograms) daily with no evidence of the Wolf-Chaikoff theoretical problem of hypothyroidism. At this dosage, Dr. Ghent reversed fibrocystic breast disease with great rates of healing. Iodine deficiency is not only associated with fibrocystic breast disease, but also higher rates of breast cancer.
In a most significant study called the Iodine Project, done from 1997 through 2005, Dr. Guy Abraham, Dr. David Brownstein, and Dr. Jorge Flechas followed 4,000 patients and administered 12.5 to 100 milligrams daily, with 100 milligrams administered to diabetics primarily, because low thyroid function is also associated with type 2 diabetes. They had positive results with only three adverse reactions out of 4,000 people (possibly allergic reactions to the binding agents, excipients, fillers, preservatives and/or synthetics commonly found in tablets, capsules and even liquids as opposed to the bioavailable form of iodine itself). This research group theorized that, because in Japan the average intake was 13.8 milligrams, and Japan had significantly less breast and prostate cancer and better health and longevity than in the US, higher doses of iodine could be safely used. In this seven-year study, they observed reversed fibrocystic breast disease, decreased insulin requirements in diabetics, significantly less need for medication for hypothyroidism, resolution for fibromyalgia and resolution of migraine headaches. In the study by Dr. Abraham, et al, the iodine ranges were somewhere between 12.5 and 100 milligrams daily (up to 100,000 micrograms/day) and were considered safe dosages.
From a worldwide perspective, the current level of iodine deficiency is pandemic. Over one-third of the global population (1.5 billion people) is living on iodine-deficient soils and are subject to significant iodine deficiency. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 72 percent of the global population is iodine deficient. According to the more recent Dr. Abraham, et al, study, 96 percent of the US population is iodine deficient. This is a significant problem with significant consequences, as iodine deficiency is among the top two causes of mental retardation. Associated with this increased iodine deficiency is a 690 percent increase in cretinism, mental retardation and ADHD in the last several decades.
From a larger physiological perspective, it is important to realize that the thyroid is only one gland of many glands and tissues that need iodine. Other glands/organs/systems with high iodine uptake are the breasts, ovaries, cervix, blood, lymph, bones, gastric mucosal, salivary, adrenal, prostate, colon, thymus, lungs, bladder, kidney and skin. In perspective, the thyroid holds 50 milligrams of iodine, the breasts hold 200 milligrams, the skin holds 400 milligrams of iodine, and the whole body holds 2,000 milligrams, and possibly much more. Iodine is found and used in every hormonal receptor in the body.
In 1911, 900 milligrams daily (900,000 micrograms/day!) were considered usual and safe doses. In 1950, the Japanese had 100 times more iodine in their diet than Americans. In 2001, they had 202 times more iodine than Americans and were using up to 13.8 milligrams daily as opposed to the average US intake of 425 micrograms daily. Unfortunately, there has never been a real study of the optimal safe dosage of iodine. Be that as it may, no one has ever died from iodine overdose or allergic reactions. It is safe to suggest that at least the guidelines given by Drs. Abraham and Brownstein for the use of 12 to 50 milligrams of iodine daily for overall sufficiency and well-being, and up to 100 milligrams/day for diabetics is reasonable, doing much more for our health than to prevent cretinism, mental retardation and goiter.
Moreover, iodine is a universal health mineral having 22 major health and well-being benefits (see here) for humans, many of which are largely unknown to this day. My prudent suggestion is that as we follow these ideas. It is important to move forward carefully as we treat this pandemic level of 72 percent iodine deficiency in the world and a shocking 96 percent deficiency in Americans, affecting the minds of billions of people. I strongly recommend that people reevaluate the amounts of iodine they consume. I recommend that children under 6 years of age take half the adult dose, children 0 to 2 years take one-quarter of the adult dose, pregnant women take 47 percent more than the adult dose (current FDA ratio), and lactating women take 93 percent more than the adult dose (current FDA ratio), as iodine is very important for brain development from a holistic perspective. In the larger humanitarian context, the risk-to-benefit ratio of these recommended doses is extremely safe for healing the planetary population and ourselves.
For more by Dr. Gabriel Cousens, visit www.treeoflife.nu.
