Spotlight on Nutrition

YOUR THYROID DEPENDS ON IT!

When we think about essential nutrients, iodine may not be the first one that springs to mind, and yet, this under-stated trace mineral is vital to the thyroid gland and its hormones. These hormones regulate the body's metabolism.

Actually, healthcare practitioners have known about the importance of iodine for at least five thousand years. In 3000 B.C., the Chinese treated goiter by feeding seaweed to patients, a rich, natural source of iodine. Greek physician Hippocrates also recommended iodine for the thyroid gland.

Despite this early knowledge, goiter was relatively common in the United States until the early part of this century. It wasn't until 1924, when iodized table salt was introduced, that goiter cases decreased dramatically (Recommended Dietary Allowances, 10th Edition, from the National Research Council).

Although the rate has decreased, iodine deficits are not uncommon. In 1983, there were an estimated 400 million iodine-deficient people in the less developed regions of the world. In the more developed countries, there were 112 million (Recommended Dietary Allowances).

How Does the Body Use Iodine?

Iodine is present in drinking water and many foods, primarily as iodide. Iodide is a compound that consists of two elements, one of which is iodine. When iodide is ingested, it is transported to the thyroid gland, where it becomes part of the thyroid hormones; thyroxin and triiodothyronine. Iodide is also delivered to the salivary and gastric glands, and to the kidneys, which filter it out of the system, iodine is absorbed in the small intestine.

The human body contains about 25 mg of iodine, 10 mg of which is stored in the thyroid.

The thyroid's iodine-dependent hormones work a number of important jobs in the body: They regulate the rate of oxidation within the cells, promote healthy physical and mental growth, and affect the function of the nervous and muscle tissues, circulation, and the metabolism of all nutrients (Foods & Nutrition Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition, Volume 2, edited by Audrey H. Ensminger, M.E. Mensinger, James E. Konlands, and John R.K. Robson). In addition, the body needs thyroxin to convert carotene to vitamin A, to synthesize protein, and to absorb carbohydrates from the intestines.

Furthermore, sufficient levels of iodine help burn excess fat, generate energy, increase mental alertness, and nourish the hair, nails, skin and teeth. (Earl Mindell's Vitamin Bible)

Other benefits of iodine are (from The Doctors' Vitamin and Mineral Encyclopedia, by Sheldon Saul Hendler, M.D., Ph.D.):

Protects Against Toxic Effects from Radioactive Materials.
Potassium iodide tablets were in high demand after the Chernobyl nuclear plant meltdown. If the thyroid gland is unprotected, radioactive iodides can enter the body, accumulate in the thyroid, and cause cancer. Iodide blocks the uptake of these radioiodides by the thyroid.

May Relieve Pain and Soreness of Fibrocystic Breasts
In 1988, a Canadian physician reported that a majority of women with fibrocystic breasts found total relief from their symptoms after taking elemental iodine for four months. The symptoms returned when the treatment was discontinued.

Effective for Treating Back Country Water
Tetraglycine hydroperiodide tablets are recommended for this purpose.

When Your Iodine Stores Run Low

What happens when you don't get enough iodine? You may run short on thyroid hormones, a disorder known as hypothyroidism. This is characterized by chronic fatigue, apathy, dry skin, intolerance to cold, sluggish meta-bolism, weight gain, and enlargement of the thyroid, i.e., goiter (The Doctor's Vitamin and Mineral Encyclopedia). Iodine deficiencies have also been linked to slow mental retardation, and cretinism.

Let's look at a few of these in more detail:

Goiter
When the body needs thyroxin, the pituitary gland signals the thyroid gland to manufacture it (Foods & Nutrition Encyclopedia). When iodine stores are running low, the thyroid has to work frantically to produce more thyroxin. This may cause the thyroid to develop endemic goiter, characterized by an enlargement in the neck area.

Women seem to be more susceptible to goiter than men. Goiter usually occurs during times when the metabolism is working overtime, such as during puberty or pregnancy. Note: There are two types of goiter - endemic, i.e., simple goiter, and exophthalmic goiter, also known as Graves disease. Endemic goiter is the result of iodine deficiency. Graves' disease is due to overactivity of the thyroid gland.

Cretinism
Iodine-deficient mothers may give birth to infants with a type of dwarfism known as cretinism (Foods & Nutrition Encyclopedia). Infants with this disorder have a malfunctioning thyroid gland, mental retardation, and stunted growth. If the condition is diagnosed right after birth, it may be reversed with thyroid-hormone treatment.

Hardening of the Arteries
A disturbance of normal fat metabolism allows cholesterol to build up in the arteries instead of being utilized or excreted. Sufficient levels of iodine prevent this metabolic malfunction (Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition, by Lavon J. Dunne).

Who is Iodine Deficient?

Iodine is unevenly distributed in the natural environment. There's a wealth of iodine in coastal regions. It's present in seafood, water - even the ocean mist (Recommended Dietary Allowances). However, further inland, soil levels of iodine may be insufficient for humans and animals. Mountainous regions are especially low in iodine.

The highest rates of iodine deficiency have been found in the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Himalayas, the Thames Valley of England, certain parts of New Zealand, several Central and South American countries, and the Great Lakes and Pacific Northwest regions of the United States.

Impoverished soil isn't the only factor in iodine deficiencies. Foods such as raw cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, turnips, cauliflower, rapeseed, rutabaga and mustard seed contain goitrogens, which interfere with the body's utilization of iodine. However, cooking these foods will prevent this goitrogenic action, and getting sufficient iodine will offset the effect. Cruciferous vegetables may protect against certain cancers, so it's better to increase iodine intake than to cut back on these healthful foods.

Food processing also depletes the iodine content of foods.

Individuals who live in an iodine poor region, who restrict their salt intake, eat large amounts of cruciferous vegetables, and who do not eat seafoods, should be concerned about their iodine levels.

How Much Do We Need?

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for iodine is 150 mcg for adults, or 1 mcg per kilogram of body weight. It is up to 175 mcg for pregnant women, amd 200 mcg for lactating women (Earl Mindell's Vitamin Bible). No adverse reactions have been reported in healthy adults taking up to 2 mg per day, or in children taking up to 1 mg per day. However, long-term intake of excessive amounts of iodine could disturb the thyroid's use of this micronutrient, and also lead to goiter (Foods & Nutrition Encyclopedia). In addition, iodine as a drug can be harmful if prescribed incorrectly.

Where Do You Find Iodine?

It's plentiful in kelp, fish, shrimp, lobster, clams, and oysters. Iodine is often added to table salt and bread (The American Medical Association Medical Guide, edited by Jeffrey R.M. Kunz, M.D., and Asher J. Finkel, M.D.).

Check Your Diet.
Preventing iodine deficiency is far easier - and more effective - than treating the resulting iodine deficiency disorders. If you're at risk of deficiency, consider increasing your iodine intake through diet or supplementation. If you're getting enough, make sure you continue. Your thyroid depends on it.

The above article was reproduced from HEALTH COUNSELOR, Vol. 7, No. 1.

Iodine and Goiter
(Chapman, Professor of Biology, University of Califoirnia, Seaweeds & Their Uses)
Use of algae and algal products in the Orient is regarded as the principal reason for the lack of goitre. The incidence of goitre in Japan has been placed at one in a million; this is probably due to the iodine that the algae contain.

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