19 replies to this topic

[protoject]

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone here was educated about the function of Iodine in the body. Over the past couple years I've read several articles about iodine stating that it can prevent cancer and other dysfunctions in many tissues in the body and that it actually is displaced by many modern poisons that we ingest, i.e. fluoride, bromide etc. when we are deficient in iodine.

But most of what I've read has some link to Dr Brownstein or a limited number of related doctors. It seems that the science behind it is limited, because whenever I search for information I can't find something more hard-science, it's a lot of theory that a non-professional like myself can't TRULY comprehend as being scientific, especially when I'm not seeing all kinds of hard studies in my searches.

So can anyone here say "Yes, it definitely helps, here is some hard science!!" or "no, it's mostly quackery" or "that definitely warrants more research"??

Thanks. And of course if I find anything worth noting I will come back to post it.

Edited by protoject, 01 May 2012 - 04:53 PM.

[Brenjin]

Iodine is necessary for your thyroid to work. So I imagine it could have have effects that way, possibly.

[niner]

While frank iodine deficiency might be rare in the Western world, sub-optimality is rampant. It's bad to not have enough, and it's bad to have too much. The difference between 'enough' and 'too much' is pretty small. I think it should be supplemented, and I take it myself, but I think it should be used with care. I take 225 mcg, but might consider backing off from that in the event I eat a lot of seafood. I think it's made a big difference in my mood; I was probably borderline deficient before I started supplementing, but didn't do any before/after testing. A reasonable iodine dose is now common in multivitamins, though that was not always the case.

[stephen_b]

I recommend reading this article, Selenium – The missing link for treating hypothyroidism?. Selenium seems to protect against iodine toxicity (in a mouse model of autoimmune thyroiditis PMID 20453397).

[protoject]

Thanks for the responses guys~! And I agree about the selenium, hopefully that is applicable to healthy humans!

[natro]

I recommend reading this article, Selenium – The missing link for treating hypothyroidism?. Selenium seems to protect against iodine toxicity (in a mouse model of autoimmune thyroiditis PMID 20453397).

I`ve been reading a lot about Iodine and from what I can see it`s important to have some selenium too in your diet for it to work well. I think in nature foods that should have iodine would also contain selenium (correct me I am wrong?).

Eggs, fish etc.. are both sources of selenium and iodine (if the soil/environement is not depleted).



So... I think if I take iodine supplements (and I want to) I really should also consider selenium or take a few brazil nuts a day (source of selenium)

[Application]

Its too bad the research on iodine supplementation is so low quality. I would be hyping Japan size (10+mg) iodine doses all over the place if it were robust.

On the anecdote level, I took mcg doses for a while a noticed a mild effect. After learning about the iodine doctors, and watching 2 people around me report strong effects from much larger mg does, I tried 12.5 mg tablets, working up to 50-75mg per day over 6 months.

Its by far the most dramatic effect from any nutrient supplement I have ever experienced. Energy, sharpness, muscle tone, improved sleep, just to name a few effects. Some people I shared it with felt like it was a fountain of youth. I learned through experimentation that the selenium 200mg/day is key to avoiding seemingly unstable thyroid reactions.

[Steve_86]

I feel that 12.5mg daily has reduced my bodyfat a little.

[Orajel]

Your body needs iodine to synthesize thyroid hormone, that's a fact. I've read a couple studies that indicate fluoride displaces iodine, so you have a point there. However, I don't think there is any conclusive evidence on weather or not the amount of fluoride we get from fluoridated water or swallowing toothpaste is enough to displace iodine.

I have a theory that fluoridated water plays a role in why we have so many fat people in America, because in theory it could displace iodine and cause hypothyroidism leading to weight gain.

[Application]

According the iodine doctors, the reason we need such high doses of I is that all of the other halogens can displace iodine. Our environment is extensively polluted with the competing halogens.

http://iodine4health...ns/halogens.htm

[foolish trends]

I personally have used iodine with excellent results. It improved my tolerance to sunlight greatly as well as my vision slightly. It also had a major impact on how easy it was to break a sweat which was related to skin 'burning' when I got warm. Completely resolved. I agree that the halogens compete with each other and when I first started supplementing it would make me nauseous. Once your body starts absorbing iodine the tolerance goes way up. There may have been a few weeks until I started supplementing selenium as well which may have helped with tolerance.

[niner]

According the iodine doctors, the reason we need such high doses of I is that all of the other halogens can displace iodine. Our environment is extensively polluted with the competing halogens.

http://iodine4health...ns/halogens.htm

Those guys aren't doctors. Fluoride doesn't displace iodine. Where is the evidence that our environment is extensively polluted with halogens?

As long as I'm myth-busting, Brazil nuts are a crappy way to get selenium, because their Se content is too variable. It ranges from not enough to too much, and there's no way to know which you kind you have.

[smithx]

Brazil nuts are a crappy way to get selenium, because their Se content is too variable.

Brazil nuts also tend to be radioactive, because they concentrate radium from the soil.

OK, now back to our topic.

Edited by smithx, 12 May 2012 - 05:58 AM.

[Application]

According the iodine doctors, the reason we need such high doses of I is that all of the other halogens can displace iodine. Our environment is extensively polluted with the competing halogens.

http://iodine4health...ns/halogens.htm

Those guys aren't doctors. Fluoride doesn't displace iodine. Where is the evidence that our environment is extensively polluted with halogens?

As long as I'm myth-busting, Brazil nuts are a crappy way to get selenium, because their Se content is too variable. It ranges from not enough to too much, and there's no way to know which you kind you have.

Are you myth-busting or just spouting off without reading?

Brownstein, Flechas, and Abraham- the 3 leading advocates for iodine supplementation, are medical doctors.

The page is filled with links to studies about halogens in our environment and their effects. I have issues with the quality of some of the research, but that is a different question.

The first fluoride link is a study showing how high levels of fluoride can cause irregular thyroid hormone levels in children. Another link on the same page talks about fluoride displacing iodine in conditions of low iodine intake, which is increasingly common in the US. This study, fluoride link 3, shows negative effects from combined high fluoride and iodine doses. This study has lab results showing high levels of some of the halogens in research subjects.

Perchlorate link 1 is a article discussing the wide range of environmental sources and negative effects on iodine levels and thyroid function. And, here is an article, with references talking about all the places we get exposed to bromides.

Edited by Application, 13 May 2012 - 04:38 AM.

[niner]

According the iodine doctors, the reason we need such high doses of I is that all of the other halogens can displace iodine. Our environment is extensively polluted with the competing halogens.

http://iodine4health...ns/halogens.htm

Those guys aren't doctors. Fluoride doesn't displace iodine. Where is the evidence that our environment is extensively polluted with halogens?

As long as I'm myth-busting, Brazil nuts are a crappy way to get selenium, because their Se content is too variable. It ranges from not enough to too much, and there's no way to know which you kind you have.

Are you myth-busting or just spouting off without reading?

Brownstein, Flechas, and Abraham- the 3 leading advocates for iodine supplementation, are medical doctors.

The page is filled with links to studies about halogens in our environment and their effects. I have issues with the quality of some of the research, but that is a different question.

The first fluoride link is a study showing how high levels of fluoride can cause irregular thyroid hormone levels in children. Another link on the same page talks about fluoride displacing iodine in conditions of low iodine intake, which is increasingly common in the US. This study, fluoride link 3, shows negative effects from combined high fluoride and iodine doses. This study has lab results showing high levels of some of the halogens in research subjects.

Perchlorate link 1 is a article discussing the wide range of environmental sources and negative effects on iodine levels and thyroid function. And, here is an article, with references talking about all the places we get exposed to bromides.

No, I'm reading enough to be disgusted, choosing not to waste my time reading all of it, and letting people know what a pharmaceutical chemist thinks about this. Most medical doctors are not scientifically trained, and some are delusional. The part of this that is right, (bromides may be a problem, perchlorate not good, fluoride overdose is bad) which I fully support, is being washed away with the wild ignorant claims that the bits of fact are floating in. Even among links you've selected as the best ones, I looked at a couple, had 'you gotta be kiddin' responses to both, and didn't bother with the rest. Sorry. I don't mean to be a dick, I'm just callin' em as I see em.

[Application]

According the iodine doctors, the reason we need such high doses of I is that all of the other halogens can displace iodine. Our environment is extensively polluted with the competing halogens.

http://iodine4health...ns/halogens.htm

Those guys aren't doctors. Fluoride doesn't displace iodine. Where is the evidence that our environment is extensively polluted with halogens?

As long as I'm myth-busting, Brazil nuts are a crappy way to get selenium, because their Se content is too variable. It ranges from not enough to too much, and there's no way to know which you kind you have.

Are you myth-busting or just spouting off without reading?

Brownstein, Flechas, and Abraham- the 3 leading advocates for iodine supplementation, are medical doctors.

The page is filled with links to studies about halogens in our environment and their effects. I have issues with the quality of some of the research, but that is a different question.

The first fluoride link is a study showing how high levels of fluoride can cause irregular thyroid hormone levels in children. Another link on the same page talks about fluoride displacing iodine in conditions of low iodine intake, which is increasingly common in the US. This study, fluoride link 3, shows negative effects from combined high fluoride and iodine doses. This study has lab results showing high levels of some of the halogens in research subjects.

Perchlorate link 1 is a article discussing the wide range of environmental sources and negative effects on iodine levels and thyroid function. And, here is an article, with references talking about all the places we get exposed to bromides.

No, I'm reading enough to be disgusted, choosing not to waste my time reading all of it, and letting people know what a pharmaceutical chemist thinks about this. Most medical doctors are not scientifically trained, and some are delusional. The part of this that is right, (bromides may be a problem, perchlorate not good, fluoride overdose is bad) which I fully support, is being washed away with the wild ignorant claims that the bits of fact are floating in. Even among links you've selected as the best ones, I looked at a couple, had 'you gotta be kiddin' responses to both, and didn't bother with the rest. Sorry. I don't mean to be a dick, I'm just callin' em as I see em.

I agree, and said above twice, the research/articles are poor quality. I didn't pick the best ones. I mainly picked ones to demonstrate you had not bothered to read anything of the material you were dismissing. (sorry for being a dick back )

Nonetheless, I suppose its worth highlighting that a pharmaceutical chemist has offered no substantive critique of the material (at least what he could read before becoming too disgusted) and seems to agree generally with some of the concepts underlying high dose iodine supplementation.

Edited by Application, 14 May 2012 - 04:03 AM.

[Luminosity]

With no iodine, people develop illnesses. I use sea salt about 70% of the time at home. I also eat seafood and seaweed. I eat these about two or three times a week. If I exceed that by much I feel like that's too much iodine for me. 30% of the time I use un-iodized salt. Everyone probably has a different need for iodine. Before they put iodine in salt, people living far from the ocean developed health problems. It is true that if you don't get enough health minerals your body takes unhealthy minerals in more deeply. I am not familiar with iodine supplements.

It's always a good idea to listen to your body.

[protoject]

Its too bad the research on iodine supplementation is so low quality. I would be hyping Japan size (10+mg) iodine doses all over the place if it were robust.

On the anecdote level, I took mcg doses for a while a noticed a mild effect. After learning about the iodine doctors, and watching 2 people around me report strong effects from much larger mg does, I tried 12.5 mg tablets, working up to 50-75mg per day over 6 months.

Its by far the most dramatic effect from any nutrient supplement I have ever experienced. Energy, sharpness, muscle tone, improved sleep, just to name a few effects. Some people I shared it with felt like it was a fountain of youth. I learned through experimentation that the selenium 200mg/day is key to avoiding seemingly unstable thyroid reactions.

200 mg or 200 mcg???

[protoject]

According the iodine doctors, the reason we need such high doses of I is that all of the other halogens can displace iodine. Our environment is extensively polluted with the competing halogens.

http://iodine4health...ns/halogens.htm

Those guys aren't doctors. Fluoride doesn't displace iodine. Where is the evidence that our environment is extensively polluted with halogens?

As long as I'm myth-busting, Brazil nuts are a crappy way to get selenium, because their Se content is too variable. It ranges from not enough to too much, and there's no way to know which you kind you have.

Are you myth-busting or just spouting off without reading?

Brownstein, Flechas, and Abraham- the 3 leading advocates for iodine supplementation, are medical doctors.

The page is filled with links to studies about halogens in our environment and their effects. I have issues with the quality of some of the research, but that is a different question.

The first fluoride link is a study showing how high levels of fluoride can cause irregular thyroid hormone levels in children. Another link on the same page talks about fluoride displacing iodine in conditions of low iodine intake, which is increasingly common in the US. This study, fluoride link 3, shows negative effects from combined high fluoride and iodine doses. This study has lab results showing high levels of some of the halogens in research subjects.

Perchlorate link 1 is a article discussing the wide range of environmental sources and negative effects on iodine levels and thyroid function. And, here is an article, with references talking about all the places we get exposed to bromides.

No, I'm reading enough to be disgusted, choosing not to waste my time reading all of it, and letting people know what a pharmaceutical chemist thinks about this. Most medical doctors are not scientifically trained, and some are delusional. The part of this that is right, (bromides may be a problem, perchlorate not good, fluoride overdose is bad) which I fully support, is being washed away with the wild ignorant claims that the bits of fact are floating in. Even among links you've selected as the best ones, I looked at a couple, had 'you gotta be kiddin' responses to both, and didn't bother with the rest. Sorry. I don't mean to be a dick, I'm just callin' em as I see em.

Thanks Niner, I haven't exaCtly seen the evidence either which is why I started this thread. I just had a sense that it was way too much hype and not enough hard facts. I tried seeing the hard facts I was looking for but they weren't there. I wanted a miracle supplement.

[Application]

Its too bad the research on iodine supplementation is so low quality. I would be hyping Japan size (10+mg) iodine doses all over the place if it were robust.

On the anecdote level, I took mcg doses for a while a noticed a mild effect. After learning about the iodine doctors, and watching 2 people around me report strong effects from much larger mg does, I tried 12.5 mg tablets, working up to 50-75mg per day over 6 months.

Its by far the most dramatic effect from any nutrient supplement I have ever experienced. Energy, sharpness, muscle tone, improved sleep, just to name a few effects. Some people I shared it with felt like it was a fountain of youth. I learned through experimentation that the selenium 200mg/day is key to avoiding seemingly unstable thyroid reactions.

200 mg or 200 mcg???

200 mcg, sorry