Iodine

Iodine

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Your thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland in the front of the neck.  Almost since recorded history began, some people particularly those living far from the sea coast could present with a large swollen thyroid which was known as a goitre.  Historically it was treated with seaweed or sea plants.  In 1820, goitre was first successfully treated using iodine.  In the 1920’s after testing in Switzerland, countries began adding iodine to table salt, reducing goitre rates throughout the world, particularly in the USA states around the Great Lakes area where goiter was epidemic.

The thyroid is a master controller within the body controlling things like, hair growth, temperature regulation, and metabolic activity, by regulating how fast or slow cells in your body work.  The hormone T3 entering cells operates like a volume control, determining how fast the cell uses energy.  The proper dietary intervention for a sluggish thyroid should be a high-fat ketogenic / paleo or carnivore diet as this removes troubling sugars and although it can lower T3 in some people does not seem to negatively impact them.

Low thyroid activity (hypothyroidism) can impact metabolism, insulin resistance, heart function, mood, memory, strength and reflexes, weight gain and energy levels, make you feel cold, slow the heart rate, and contribute to dry skin and depression.

Here is the production process.  The hypothalamus in the brain makes TRH (Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone) which instructs the pituitary gland to make Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) this triggers the thyroid to produce T4 (thyroxine) which is the storage form of the thyroid hormone,  which is then converted using iodine within cells to T3 (triiodothyronine), which is the active form, so it is important to have iodine available.  The T4-T3 conversion is also impacted by low nutrient levels, iron or zinc deficiency, excess iodine or alcohol, inflammatory diets including seed oils and chronic stress.

Thyroid hormones T3 and T4 have 3 and and 4 iodine atoms respectively attached to their molecules, highlighting their dependence on iodine.

When the conversion process is not functioning properly the body can produce ‘reverse T3’ the level of which can be an indicator of how poorly the conversion process is working.  Reverse T3 is also produced as a signal to down-regulate some functions such as when nutrition is low and a reduction in body temperature, hair growth or metabolism is deemed necessary.

For effective conversion, the amino acid (protein) tyrosine is needed plus selenium which can be supplemented by eating about one Brazil nut each day although their selenium levels are highly variable. To be sure of getting 200 micrograms per day you may want to take a selenomethionine supplement as this is the most absorbable and taken 30 minutes before supplementary iodine, reduces oxidative stress from the iodine metabolism.  Tyrosine is found in eggs, fish, chicken, beef, Greek yoghurt, tofu and legumes.  Raw cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, kale, cabbage, etc., when coupled with low iodine can also reduce conversion.

Every cell in a human body needs iodine. Iodine shortfall is a major culprit in low thyroid hormones with more than 75% of people affected. There has been some dietary confusion about iodine which has resulted in poor advice to avoid it.  This can be disastrous for proper thyroid functioning.  Natural food sources for iodine include iodized salt, eggs, dairy and seafoods.

US Doctor, Amie Horneman claims that iodine is anti-fungal, anti-viral, protects the thyroid, provides cancer protection, and can suppress tumor growth by dampening VEGF response helping to prevent cancer.

Iodine used to be more abundant and available in human diets, but 4 major factors have reduced its availability.  First the level of iodine in the soil that is available to plants has been decreasing over the years so that natural sources in food have been declining.  Second a rise in the level of Hashimoto’s Disease has been incorrectly blamed on iodine resulting in recommendations to avoid this and thirdly, in about 1970, bakers who previously used iodine as a dough conditioner began switching over to potassium bromate.  In many countries this has now been banned due to safety concerns.  Finally, the prevalence of fluoride in water and toothpaste is a barrier.

Dr. David Brownstein, “The Iodine Doctor” points out that as iodine levels have declined, so Hashimoto’s disease has been rising.   This negative correlation strongly suggests no relationship between them.  He reverses Hashimoto’s in his patients using supplementary iodine.

In the human body, iodine competes with chlorine, bromine and fluoride, at the same receptors and where iodine levels are low compared with these, they will displace iodine, which is a problem for the thyroid which depends on adequate iodine levels.  Unfortunately bromine is used as a fire retardant and is present in many clothes which, by contact, can raise the levels of this in the body.

Perhaps the biggest barrier to iodine uptake today is the prevalence of fluoride.  Well meaning people have put it into water and toothpaste in an effort to minimize tooth cavities.  However fluoride (also a halide, like iodine, bromine and chlorine) has a 20 times greater affinity for the iodine receptor in each cell (The sodium iodide symporter, NIS) and will displace it because of this affinity.  The result is that the iodine is unable to get into the cells as needed.  To be sure to get your needed iodine, you need to ensure your drinking water is fluoride and chlorine free and your toothpaste is fluoride free.  Some experts recommend very high levels of iodine in order to try and overcome this barrier.

For these reasons, the majority of people in developed countries are now iodine deficient.  Standard recommendations of 150 micrograms (mcg) per day and typically supplied by using iodized salt is a level that was defined only sufficient to avoid goiter.  It is revealing that The Japanese have a very low rate of thyroid disease, breast cancer and prostate cancer compared to other industrialized countries, where the traditional diet provides 1000 - 3000 micrograms per day and can be 5 - 20 times the level of western diets. 

Supplement warnings suggest staying below 1000 micrograms (or 1.0 milligram, mg) per day.  Dr. David Brownstein determines individual dosing for his patients based on their condition, but states that most of his patients are on about 25 milligrams per day and at times more than this.  This is very controversial as it is 25,000 micrograms, or 160 times the US RDA level.  He is successfully treating hundreds of patients in his clinic,  plus using these levels to reverse Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease.

Dr. Sarah Myhill in UK, points out that the first part of the human digestive tract, all the way from the mouth to the large intestine, should be sterile and failure to maintain this is the root cause of many gastric illnesses.  A few drops of iodine daily can help with this while increasing the overall level for the whole body.  Excess iodine is readily excreted by the kidneys. 

When supplementing iodine, it can displace bromine which can create some problems because the displaced bromine may cause headaches, brain fog and general discomfort as it is expelled from the body.  These symptoms are sometimes blamed on the additional iodine causing people to stop supplementing.  This is apparently a short term problem, resolving in a few weeks and can be assisted by ensuring adequate levels of salt and selenium.  My general recommendation of 1/2 tsp salt in 1/2 liter of water first thing every morning is perfect.  It is important to start the iodine dose at a low level and increase slowly to allow the body to adapt to the change gradually.  Supplementing iodine can cause TSH to rise initially, however my research suggests that this will recover over about 3 months.  T3 testing may be able to confirm this. 

Do children benefit from iodine supplementation.  My reading suggests that developing brains need iodine and that without adequate levels, their potential IQ will be impacted.  Girls in puberty also need higher iodine levels due to the requirement for this with female body changes.

If you also supplement vitamin C, do not take this at the same time as iodine as they don’t mix well.  Leave about 2 hours minimum between them.  A suggestion would be to take one in the morning and the other in the evening.  Both have antibacterial effects helping to kill harmful bacteria, reducing food poisoning and gut infections.

If you are doing a low carb / carnivore diet, taking GLP-1 and not losing any weight or your HbA1C is stuck, it could be your thyroid not working correctly.  90% of thyroid problems occur in women, men are more protected due to their higher testosterone level.  The question becomes, is it low TSH, or low conversion of thyroid hormones T3 and T4 caused by low iodine levels.  Because TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid hormone, a free-T3 and reverse-T3 test may be needed to establish the problem.  Dr. David Brownstein claims that 75% of the people he tests need to supplement iodine.

If you are already on a Thyroid hormone supplement, and adding iodine restores your ability to synthesize the same hormone, you will need medication adjustments.  Work with your doctor.

Some of the more visible symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

Goiter; dry skin; cracked skin; hair loss or brittleness; brittle nails; always cold; toenail fungus; low energy; slow heart rate; elevated blood pressure; dry eyes, loss of outer 1/3 of eyebrows; orange hands; brain fog; and inability to lose weight.

The simple solution is, take 1/2 tsp salt in water daily, supplement with some iodine easing into a suitable level and ensure you have adequate magnesium and a Brazil nut for the selenium.  If you have too much iodine, the kidneys will remove it.  The majority of people are both salt and iodine deficient.  For a non-supplement option, eat a small can of sardines each day for iodine, omega-3 and calcium.

Seek professional advice before dietary changes, particularly if on medication.  George Elder, Certified Health Coach, Author, Diploma in Nutrition. 

The best thing you can do for your health is eat better.