The topic for this newsletter is an essential nutrient which has not received adequate attention: iodine.
Most people are familiar with iodine because they know it is needed for thyroid gland function. What they don’t realize is the broad range of effects of this mineral.
 80 to 100 years ago iodine was a very popular medication. Its importance was so recognized that it was added to salt to prevent goiter, especially in the Midwest USA. However, people were scared away from using salt because of the fear of its contributing to high blood pressure. Consequently, they lost the iodine. Recently, those people who switched to sea salt don’t bother to get iodized versions of it.
So why is iodine so important? Yes, it is necessary for thyroid health. In addition, iodine is essential for the health of all the glands in the body. It is associated with increased sensitivity to insulin (a protection against diabetes mellitus type 2), and improvement of heart function in certain conditions, and it is essential for healthy bones and teeth and for general hearth health. Adequate iodine levels also assist in removing toxic heavy metals from the body like mercury, lead, cadmium, and aluminum. Iodine can also improve the immune system and reduce the risk of “catching” a communicable disease. Raising iodine levels can improve IQ. Adequate iodine levels are essential for healthy bone growth. Is all this deficiency of iodine related to the epidemic of osteoporosis and osteopenia we are seeing now?
Lack of iodine is associated with a number of disorders. These include fibrocystic disease of the breast, dry skin with a decreased ability to sweat (very important for temperature control and for detoxification), achlorhydria (not producing enough hydrochloric acid in the stomach, essential for protein digestion). Achlorhydria is associated with gastroesophageal reflux (yes, too little hydrochloric acid rather than too much), increased incidence of stomach cancer, hair loss, and other problems. Other problems associated with iodine deficiency include dry eyes, dry mouth, and ovarian cysts. (I dread to think how many women with cystic ovaries have had them removed when iodine and other nutrients might have taken care of the problem.)
Unfortunately, in our rush to “prevent” illness, we have substituted iodine with fluoride in the water supply and with bromine in breads. Yet these elements interfere with iodine for the thyroid and may be related to our epidemic of hypothyroidism.
What to do? The body needs two forms of iodine: non-organic iodine and iodide. Thus taking a combination of these two forms is best. Decades ago, people used Lugol’s solution as a medical treatment and as a supplement because it contains these two forms of iodine. While it is possible to take too much iodine, so many people now are so deficient that it can take a few months of supplementation to replenish.
 I highly recommend an iodine loading test. This involves taking a specific dose of iodine (50mg), collecting your urine for 24 hours, and then sending a sample of this to one of the special laboratories that perform this test. If the collected urine sample shows that the urine contains 90% or more of the iodine you ingested, then your body has adequate iodine levels. If less is in the urine, this means your body needed the iodine and you were deficient. Some of my colleagues are finding that more than 90% of their patients are deficient in iodine according to this test.
For those who are deficient, recommended dosage for replenishing iodine levels is between 12.5mg to 50 mg per day for 2 to 3 months. Then the test should be repeated.
Most people find a maintenance dose of 12.5 mg per day sufficient.
I encourage all of you to address this issue of iodine for yourselves. Iodine is most effective, of course, when you take the other nutrients needed for effective body functioning including selenium, vitamin C, B vitamins, and essential minerals, to name some of them.
I want to thank Guy Abraham, MD who has had to courage to bring to medical attention the issue of iodine and other essential nutrients.
If you would like to read further, I recommend the book by David Brownstein, MD entitled Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It.”
Best of health to you. | 
