Making Smarter Children With Maternal Iodine Supplements

Posted on January 30, 2015
 

A Young Mom WIth Hashimotos Thyroiditis


Christina is a 32 year old mom with Hashimotos Thyroiditis.

Unfortunately, the autoimmune thyroid disease has damaged her thyroid gland and slowed thyroid function. Her lab panel revealed elevated TPO antibodies and low Free T3 levels.  When first seen a year ago, Christina complained of chronic fatigue, weight gain, a “puffy” appearance of the eyes and face, dry skin and hair loss.  Thankfully, these symptoms all resolved over time on a treatment program with Nature-Throid (RLC Labs) 2 grains per day, selenium supplement,  200 mcg per day and iodine supplement, Iodoral half tablet (6.25 mg) daily.  Christina takes Celtic sea salt daily as well, to avoid Dermo-Bromism. Above left image woman on telephone courtesy of wikimedia commons.

Low Iodine Levels in Mom
Christina had low iodine levels. Her baseline urinary iodine excretion was 49 mcg/L indicating moderate iodine deficiency based on WHO Guidelines.(1)  Iodine supplements were given to correct this.

A Happy Mom Calls to Share the News !


After six months on our treatment program which includes iodine supplementation and prenatal vitamins containing methyl folate, Christina calls to share the good news. She is expecting !!
 
Why is Iodine So Important?
Raising Baby IQ with Iodized Salt

In 1924 iodized salt was introduced in the US, and average IQ increased by 15 points in iodine deficient areas of the country according to studies on military recruits.  Global programs to eliminate iodine deficiency have also improved IQ in other countries.  See universal salt iodization by Sullivan 1995.

Iodine Deficient Moms Cause Mental Retardation in Babies
Maternal iodine deficiency is the single most common cause of preventable mental retardation in children, and is a global health problem addressed by the World Health Organization.(5-7)

Low Maternal Iodine is Still a Problem

In spite of Iodized salt in the US, one third of young women have low iodine levels placing the baby at risk for neuro-developmental delay (2-4).  Low maternal iodine level is a preventable cause of mental retardation.(2)  As noted above, low maternal iodine levels have a deleterious effect on the baby’s brain development and IQ scores.  In many countries, screening programs have been instituted to detect Congenital Hypothyroidism caused by iodine deficiency so the babies can be treated immediately.  Left Image Smiling Baby courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

How Much Iodine ?

Our office program for the expectant mom with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is 225-450 mcg of Potassium Iodide daily.  We monitor the spot urinary iodine excretion.  We also monitor thyroid labs, TSH, Free T3, Free T4 and antibody levels.  As the pregnancy progresses, we typically note declining TPO antibody levels related to “immune tolerance” of pregnancy as reported by Balucan et al.(8-9)

Excess Maternal Iodine May Raise TSH in Newborn

Although Iodine deficiency is the topic of this article, we will now discuss the other side of the coin, “Maternal Iodine Excess” causing “Transient Congenital Hypothyroidism in the newborn” reported in the pediatric literature. (15)  For this reason, for maternal iodine intake, we recommend the range of 225-450 mcg/day,  well below the 1,100 mcg per day upper limit set by the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) of the Institute of Medicine. 

Asian Cultures Have High Dietary Iodine Intake

Asian cultures such as Japan and Korea, mothers consume kombu soups containing sea weed with high iodine content, (2000-3000 mcg per day), and elevated TSH levels suggesting hypothyroidism may be discovered  in the newborn baby during congenital hypothyroidism screening. (16-18)  These cultural practices have been followed for centuries, while only recently the newborn thyroid screening programs been established. (16-18)

Iodine Is a Supplement Available at the Health Food Store

Don’t Go It Alone.

For anyone thinking of supplementing with Iodine, I would recommend seeking out and working closely with a knowledgeable physician who can  monitor iodine levels, thyroid function, and supervise your  program.  For a list of iodine-literate practitioners click here.'

Conclusion:
Making sure our moms-to-be have healthy Iodine levels will produce more intelligent babies with higher IQ.

Articles with Related Interest:
Iodine and Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Thyroid Disease
Hashimotos, Selenium and Iodine, Part Two
Iodine and Bromine Detox With Unrefined Salt

Iodine Induced Hyperthyroidism 
David Brownstein on Thyroid Health and  Iodine

Jeffrey Dach MD
7450 Griffin Road Suite 190
Davie, Florida, 33314
954-792-4663

Links and references
1) Iodine Guidelines: WHO_Urinary Excretion 2013 World Health Organization  World Health Organization Urinary Iodine Excretion Guidelines:
50-99 mcg/L indicates mild deficiency,
20-49 mcg/L indicates moderate deficiency,
and less than 20 mcg/L indicates severe deficiency.
2) 2012_Leung_iodine_intake_during_pregnancy_Thyroid
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23134529
Thyroid. January 2013, 23(1): 7-8. Sufficient Iodine Intake During Pregnancy: Just Do It.  Angela M. Leung, Elizabeth N. Pearce, Lewis E. Braverman
According to data from the National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey (NHANES), the median urinary iodine
concentration in U.S. adults decreased by over 50% from the
early 1970s to the late 1990s (10). Of particular concern in the
NHANES data is that the prevalence of urinary iodine
values < 50 lg/L among women of childbearing age increased
by almost fourfold, from 4% to 15%, during this period.
The most recent NHANES survey (2005–2008)
demonstrated that 35.3% of pregnant women had urinary
iodine levels below 100 lg/L (11), which suggests mild iodine
deficiency (12).
Reductions in U.S. dietary iodine have been variously ascribed to a possible reduction in the iodine content of dairy products, the removal of iodate dough conditioners in commercially produced bread, new recommendations for reduced salt intake for blood pressure control, the recent increased use of Kosher and sea salts (which contain no iodine), and the increasing use of noniodized salt in manufactured or ‘‘pre-made’’ convenience foods (13).
NHANES Survey showing 50% decline in Iodine levels
3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9768638
Hollowell JG, Staehling NW, Hannon WH, Flanders DW,
Gunter EW, Maberly GF, Braverman LE, Pino S, Miller DT,
Garbe PL, DeLozier DM, Jackson RJ 1998 Iodine nutrition in
the United States. Trends and public health implications:
iodine excretion data from National Health and Nutrition
Examination Surveys I and III (1971–1974 and 1988–1994). J
Clin Endocrinol Metab 83:3401–3408.
4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21323596
Thyroid. 2011 Apr;21(4):419-27.
Iodine status of the U.S. population, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005–2006 and 2007–2008.
Caldwell KL, Makhmudov A, Ely E, Jones RL, Wang RY.
This report presents urinary iodine (UI) concentrations for the general U.S. population during 2005-2006 and 2007-2008.
The median UI concentrations for the general U.S. population in 2005-2006 and 2007-2008 were 164 mg/L (95% confidence interval [CI] 154-174) and 164 mg/L (95% CI 154-173), respectively. Also, the proportions of the population with a UI concentration of < 50 mg/L during these survey periods were 9.8% ± 1.3% and 8.8% ± 0.4%, respectively. The median UI concentration and prevalence of ≥ 200 mg/L appeared to be higher in children and persons ≥ 70 years than in other age groups. (ii) In both surveys, children aged 6-11 years had median UI concentrations of ≥ 200 mg/L, and about 5% of them had a UI concentration of < 50 mg/L. (iii) All pregnant women (sample size 184) surveyed during 2005-2008 had a median UI concentration of 125 mg/L (95% CI 86-198), and 56.9% ± 7.9% of this group had a UI concentration of < 150 mg/L. UI concentrations were lower among non-Hispanic black survey participants than non-Hispanic white and Mexican-American participants.
5) http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2013/07/23/how-adding-iodine-to-salt-boosted-americans-iq/#.VMt8xiy6b2I
How Adding Iodine to Salt Boosted Americans’ IQ
By Lisa Raffensperger | July 23, 2013 3:00 pm
The economists found that in the lowest-iodine areas—the bottom quarter of the study population—the introduction of iodized salt had stark effects. Men from these regions born in 1924 or later were significantly more likely to get into the Air Force and had an average IQ that was 15 points higher than their predecessors.
6) COGNITIVE_EFFECTS_SALT_IODIZATION_Feyrer_July_2013
http://www.nber.org/papers/w19233
Feyrer, James, Dimitra Politi, and David N. Weil. The Cognitive Effects of Micronutrient Deficiency: Evidence from Salt Iodization in the United States. No. w19233. National Bureau of Economic Research, 2013.
Iodine deficiency is the leading cause of preventable mental retardation in the world today. The condition, which was common in the developed world until the introduction of iodized salt in the 1920s, is connected to low iodine levels in the soil and water. We examine the impact of salt iodization on cognitive outcomes in the US by taking advantage of this natural geographic variation. Salt was iodized over a very short period of time beginning in 1924. We use military data collected during WWI and WWII to compare
outcomes of cohorts born before and after iodization, in localities  that were naturally poor and rich in iodine. We ˝find that for the one quarter of the population most deficient in iodine this intervention
raised IQ by approximately one standard deviation. Our results can explain roughly one decade’s worth of the upwardtrend in IQ in the US (the Flynn Effect). We also document a large increase in thyroid
related deaths following the countrywide adoption of iodized salt, which affected mostly older individuals in localities with high prevalence of iodine deficiency.
Interpreting our measure in terms of IQ, our nding is that in iodine-de cient regions, iodization raised IQ scores by roughly one standard deviation, or 15 points. Given that one-quarter of the population lived in such regions, this implies a nationwide increase in average IQ of 3.5 points.
7) Salt_Iodization_American_Worker_Adhvaryu_2013
Adhvaryu, Achyuta, et al. “Salt Iodization and the Enfranchisement of the American Worker.” (2013).
In 1924, The Morton Salt Company, the largest salt producer in the United States, began nationwide distribution of iodine-fortified salt. Access to iodine, a key determinant of cognitive ability, rose considerably, leading to increased intelligence quotients particularly in places where deficiency was previously rampant. We compare outcomes for cohorts exposed in utero to iodized salt to slightly older, unexposed cohorts, across individuals born in states with previously high versus low iodine deficiency rates. We document substantial impacts of salt iodization. High school completion rose by nearly 6 percentage points, and labor force participation went up by 1 point. Analysis of income transitions by quantile shows that new
labor force joiners entered at the bottom of  the wage distribution and took up blue collar jobs, pulling down average wage income conditional on employment. Our results inform the ongoing debate on salt iodization in many low-income countries. We show that blanket
iodized salt distribution in fact had a very targeted impact, benefiting the worker on the margin of employment, and generating sizeable economic returns at low cost.
8) Maternal thyroid deficiency during pregnancy Haddow New Eng J Med 1999
Haddow, James E., et al. “Maternal thyroid deficiency during pregnancy and subsequent neuropsychological development of the child.” New England Journal of Medicine 341.8 (1999): 549-555.
9) Balucan, Francis S., Syed A. Morshed, and Terry F. Davies. “Thyroid autoantibodies in pregnancy: their role, regulation and clinical relevance.” Journal of thyroid research 2013 (2013).
10) Iodine: Its Role In Health and Disease  Some New Exciting Concepts  Michael B. Schachter, M.D.
11) An Iodine Primer By Dr. Davis | July 9, 2012
12) Iodine to the Rescue Dr Sircus on June 11, 2012
13) Iodine—Are You Getting Enough? Many Americans Aren’t
2012  Dr. J. E. Williams
14) Safe Uses of Iodine Blog Alexander Haskell
15) Connelly, Kara J., et al. “Congenital hypothyroidism caused by excess prenatal maternal iodine ingestion.” The Journal of pediatrics 161.4 (2012): 760-762.
16) Nishiyama, Soroku, et al. “Transient hypothyroidism or persistent hyperthyrotropinemia in neonates born to mothers with excessive iodine intake.” Thyroid 14.12 (2004): 1077-1083.
17) Iodine_induced_neonatal_hypothyroidism_Emder_2011_JPCH  Emder, Phillip John, and Michelle Marion Jack.”Iodine‐induced neonatal hypothyroidism secondary to maternal seaweed consumption: A common practice in some Asian cultures to promote breast milk supply.” Journal of paediatrics and child health 47.10 (2011): 750-752.
18) Chen, Wen, et al. “Neonatal thyroid function born to mothers living with long‐term excessive iodine intake from drinking water.” Clinical endocrinology (2014).
Jeffrey Dach MD
7450 Griffin Road, Suite 190
Davie, Fl 33314
954-792-4663
www.drdach.com
www.naturalmedicine101.com
www.bioidenticalhormones101.com
www.truemedmd.com
Click Here for: Dr Dach’s Online Store for Pure Encapsulations Supplements
Click Here for: Dr Dach’s Online Store for Nature’s Sunshine Supplements
Web Site and Discussion Board Links:
jdach1.typepad.com/blog/
disc.yourwebapps.com/Indices/244124.html
disc.yourwebapps.com/Indices/244066.html
disc.yourwebapps.com/Indices/244067.html
disc.yourwebapps.com/Indices/244161.html
disc.yourwebapps.com/Indices/244163.html

Disclaimer click here: www.drdach.com/wst_page20.html
The reader is advised to discuss the comments on these pages with his/her personal physicians and to only act upon the advice of his/her personal physician. Also note that concerning an answer which appears as an electronically posted question, I am NOT creating a physician — patient relationship. Although identities will remain confidential as much as possible, as I can not control the media, I can not take responsibility for any breaches of confidentiality that may occur.
Link to this article:http://wp.me/p3gFbV-2yu
Copyright (c) 2015 Jeffrey Dach MD All Rights Reserved. This article may be reproduced on the internet without permission, provided there is a link to this page and proper credit is given.
FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of issues of significance. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

Iodine Treats Breast Cancer, Overwhelming Evidence by Jeffrey Dach MD

Iodine Treats Breast Cancer, the Overwhelming Evidence 

by Jeffrey Dach MD

This article is Part Two of a series. For Part One , Click Here.

Spontaneous Regression of Breast Cancer

David Brownstein MD reports three cases of spontaneous regression of breast cancer after women take iodine supplementation.(1) (This is reported on page 63  of the Iodine Book by David Brownstein MD.)

Joan, an English Teacher

The first patient, Joan a 63 year old English teacher, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1989, declined conventional treatment, and took 50 mg per day of Iodoral, (Iodine). Six weeks later, a PET scan (left image) showed, “all of the existing tumors were disintegrating”.  Upper Left Image: Upper two frames is a PET scan showing breast cancer )(red arrows).  Lower two frames is a CAT scan showing enhancing breast cancer mass, red arrow. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Delores

The second patient, 73 year old Delores, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003.  She declined conventional treatment with radiation and chemotherapy.  Instead, Dolores took 50 mg of Iodoral daily. A follow up ultrasound of the breast 18 months later showed,” It appears that these malignancies have diminished in size since the last examination. Interval improvement is definitely seen,”  Two years later a follow up mammogram and ultrasound failed to show any abnormality and were read by the radiologist as normal.

Joyce

The third patient, 52 year old Joyce was diagnosed with breast cancer two years prior (left image), and started on Iodoral 50 mg per day.  Three years after starting Iodoral, her follow up mammograms and ultrasound exams show decreasing size of the tumor with no progression.(1)

Left Image: Mammogram showing breast cancer courtesy of wikimedia commons.

Iodine Deficiency Causes Breast Cancer – The Overwhelming Evidence

Human Studies of Areas with Low Iodine
Iodine deficiency is associated with a higher rate of goiter and breast cancer.  Similarly, higher dietary Iodine intake is associated with less goiter and breast cancer.  For example, Japan has the highest dietary intake of iodine (13 mg per day), and the lowest rates for goiter and breast cancer.  However, when Japanese women immigrate and change dietary intake of Iodine to the lower 150 mcg/day in America, breast cancer rates increase.(1)
Iceland is another country with high Iodine intake and low rates for goiter and breast cancer.  The high dietary iodine came from the fishing industry before WWI.  In those days, the fish meal was fed to dairy cows providing milk with high iodine content.  After WWI, the fish meal was eliminated from the dairy cows, and breast cancer rates soared ten-fold. (2)

Animal studies

Iodine deficient diets in animals induces breast cancer and goiter.(1)

Iodine Research from Mexico, India and Japan.

India
The Shrivastava group in India reported molecular iodine induces apoptosis (programmed cell death) in human breast cancer cell cultures.  “Iodine showed cytotoxic effects in the cultured human breast cancer cells”. (3)

Mexico
From Mexico,  the Carmen Aceves Velasco Group reported Iodine to be safe, with no harmful effects on thyroid function, and an anti-proliferative effect on human breast cancer cell cultures. (5)(6)(7) Their 2009 paper reported the mechanism by which Iodine works as an anti-cancer agent.  Iodine binds to membrane lipids called lactones forming iodo-lactones which regulate apoptosis (programmed cell death).  Iodine causes apoptosis which makes cancer cells undergo programmed cell death.(4) Dr. Aceves concluded that continuous molecular iodine treatment has a “potent antineoplastic effect” on the progression of mammary cancer. (10)

Japan
From Japan, Dr Funahashi reported a common seaweed food containing high iodine content is more beneficial than chemotherapy on breast cancer .   “He found that administration of Lugol’s iodine or iodine-rich Wakame seaweed to rats treated with the carcinogen dimethyl benzanthracene suppressed the development of mammary tumors. The same group demonstrated that seaweed induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells with greater potency than that of fluorouracil, a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat breast cancer.”(8)

Left column Images are untreated rats with large breast cancer tumors (red arrows) .Right column Images are rats treated with Iodine showing reduction in breast cancer tumors. From Funahashi Japan (8)

Mechanism of Action-Altering Gene Expression

A 2008 paper by Bernard A. Eskin MD showed that Iodine actually altered gene expression in breast cancer cells, inducing programmed cell death. (9)

Lung Cancer and Iodine

A 2003 study by Ling Zhang ahowed that molecular Iodine caused lung cancer cells to undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis).  These lung cancer cells had been genetically modified to increase iodine uptake.(12)  Interestingly, a 1993 case report describes spontaneous remission of lung cancer in a patient incidentally treated with Amiodorone which contains iodine (about 9 mg per day)(13)

In Conclusion

Current Iodine research calls for use of molecular Iodine for all patients with breast cancer. (10)(11)  Other cancers such as lung and prostate may also benefit.  Further research on Iodine as cancer chemotherapy should receive top priority for NIH funding.

How to Obtain Iodine Tablets

Iodine (Iodoral) is available on the internet without a prescription. Financial Disclosure: The author has no financial interest in the Iodine Book mentioned above, or in any company that manufactures Iodine Supplements.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended as medical advice.  Make sure to discuss with your doctor and follow your own personal doctor’s recommendations when contemplating any changes to your diet, medications, or medical treatment programs.

Articles with Related Content

Breast Cancer Prevention with Iodine Supplementation
Rethink Pink October Breast Cancer Mammogram by Jeffrey Dach MD
The Untold Message of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Prevention and Iodine Supplementation
The Thyroid Nodule Epidemic by Jeffrey Dach MD
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Vitamin D
Rachel Carson and Silent Spring by Jeffrey Dach MD
Vitamin D Prevents Hip Fracture and Breast Cancer 

Links and References

(1) Iodine, Why You Need It , Why You Can’t Live Without It, by David Brownstein MD
Fourth Edition 2009, Medical Alternatives Press.
(2) Breast Cancer and Iodine by David M Derry MD PhD 2001 Trafford.
Human Breast Cancer – India 2006 full text
(3) http://www.jbc.org/content/281/28/19762.abstract
July 14, 2006 The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 281, 19762-19771
Molecular Iodine Induces Caspase-independent Apoptosis in Human Breast Carcinoma Cells Involving the Mitochondria-mediated Pathway.  Ashutosh Shrivastava et al.  National Laboratory Animal Cell Culture and Electron Microscopy Unit, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226 014, India
The iodine-induced apoptotic mechanism was studied in MCF-7 cells. DNA fragmentation analysis confirmed internucleosomal DNA degradation. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling established that iodine induced apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner in MCF-7 cells.
We propose a detailed mechanism of the molecular iodine (I2)-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells that may explain iodine-induced breast cancer regression in experimental rat models as well as beneficial effects observed in human fibrocystic breast subjects (3-6). Iodine showed cytotoxic effects in the cultured human breast cancer cells
C Aceves, Arroyo-Helguera
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2703618/
Mol Cancer. 2009; 8: 33. Published online 2009 June 6.
Antineoplastic effect of iodine in mammary cancer: participation of 6-iodolactone (6-IL) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR). Carmen Aceves et al. México
This report confirms our previous observations that I2 treatment reduces mammary cancer incidence [7], decreases the proliferative rate (PCNA), and induces apoptosis (TUNEL and caspases) in cancerous mammary cells in vitro [14,15] or in vivo without any secondary adverse effect on the thyroid or general health .
Our previous observation that tumor growth resumes if I2 treatment is suspended. [7].
In conclusion, these data support our notion that I2 supplement could be an adjuvant in the therapy of mammary cancer, where the high concentration of AA characteristic of tumoral cells serves as substrate to form 6-IL, which in turn triggers the activation of apoptotic and anti-invasive pathways by modulating PPAR receptors.
Safety of Molecular Iodine
(5) http://iodine4health.com/research/anguiano_2007_uptake_gene_expression.pdf
THYROID Volume 17, Number 9, 2007. Uptake and Gene Expression with Antitumoral Doses of Iodine in Thyroid and Mammary Gland: Evidence That Chronic Administration Has No Harmful Effects. Carmen Aceves Velasco et al.
Several studies have demonstrated that moderately high concentrations of molecular iodine (I2) diminish the symptoms of mammary fibrosis in women, reduce the occurrence of mammary cancer induced chemically in rats (50–70%), and have a clear antiproliferative and apoptotic effect in the human tumoral mammary cell line MCF-7.
Nevertheless, the importance of these effects has been underestimated, in part because of the notion that exposure to excess iodine represents a potential risk to thyroid physiology. In the present work we demonstrate that uptake and metabolism of iodine differ in an organ-specific manner and also depend on the chemical form of the iodine ingested (potassium iodide vs. I2). Further, we show that a moderately high I2 supplement (0.05%) causes some of the characteristics of the ‘‘acute Wolff-Chaikoff effect’’; namely, it lowers expression of the sodium=iodide symporter, pendrin, thyroperoxidase (TPO), and deiodinase type 1 in thyroid gland without diminishing circulating levels of thyroid hormone.
Finally, we confirm that I2 metabolism is independent of TPO, and we demonstrate that, at the doses used here, which are potentially useful to treat mammary tumors, chronic I2 supplement is not accompanied by any harmful secondary effects on the thyroid or general physiology. Thus, we suggest that I2 could be considered for use in clinical trials of breast cancer therapies
I2 increases expression of NIS, PEN, and lactoperoxidase (LPO) in tumoral mammary tissue without any alteration in thyroid physiology. These data indicate that the
uptake and metabolism of iodine are organ-specific and differ depending on the chemical form in which it is ingested, and they provide additional evidence that a chronic, moderately high I2 supplement causes no harmful secondary effects on
health (e.g., body weight, thyroid economy, or reproductive cycle). Thus, we propose that I2 supplementation should be considered for use in clinical trials of breast cancer therapies.
Breast Cancer Cell Line and Iodine
(6) http://erc.endocrinology-journals.org/cgi/content/full/13/4/1147
Endocr Relat Cancer. 2006 Dec;13(4):1147-58.
Uptake and antiproliferative effect of molecular iodine in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line.  C Aceves  et al. Querétaro, México.
In conclusion, these results demonstrate that I2 uptake does not depend on NIS or PDS; they suggest that in mammary cancer cells, I2 is taken up by a facilitated diffusion system and then covalently bound to lipids or proteins that, in turn, inhibit proliferation.
(7) http://erc.endocrinology-journals.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/4/1003
Signaling pathways involved in the antiproliferative effect of molecular iodine in normal and tumoral breast cells: evidence that 6-iodolactone mediates apoptotic effects. C Aceves et al. Querétaro  México.
Previous reports have documented the antiproliferative properties of I2 and the arachidonic acid (AA) derivative 6-iodolactone (6-IL) in both thyroid and mammary glands. In this study, we characterized the cellular pathways activated by these molecules and their effects on cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in normal (MCF-12F) and cancerous (MCF-7) breast cells.
Low-to-moderate concentrations of I2 (10–20 µM) cause G1 and G2/M phase arrest in MCF-12F and caspase-dependent apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. In normal cells, only high doses of I2 (40 µM) induced apoptosis, and this effect was mediated by poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1) and the apoptosis-induced factor, suggesting an oxidative influence of iodine at high concentrations. Our data indicate that both I2 and 6-IL trigger the same intracellular pathways and suggest that the antineoplasic effect of I2 in mammary cancer involves the intracellular formation of 6-IL. Mammary cancer cells are known to contain high concentrations of AA, which might explain why I2 exerts apoptotic effects at lower concentrations only in tumoral cells.
Seaweed Japan
(8) http://iodine4health.com/research/funahashi_2001_seaweed_prevents_breast_cancer.pdf
RAPID COMMUNICATION Jpn. J. Cancer Res. 92, 483–487, May 2001
Seaweed Prevents Breast Cancer?  Hiroomi Funahashi et al. Japan.
To investigate the chemopreventive effects of seaweed on breast cancer, we have been studying the relationship between iodine and breast cancer. We found earlier that the seaweed, wakame, showed a suppressive effect on the proliferation of DMBA (dimethylbenz(a)anthracene)-induced rat mammary tumors, possibly via apoptosis induction. In the present study, powdered mekabu was placed in distilled water, and left to stand for 24 h at 4°C. The filtered supernatant was used as mekabu solution. It showed an extremely strong suppressive effect on rat mammary carcinogenesis when
used in daily drinking water, without toxicity. In vitro, mekabu solution strongly induced apoptosis in 3 kinds of human breast cancer cells. These effects were stronger than those of a chemotherapeutic agent widely used to treat human breast cancer. Furthermore, no apoptosis induction was observed in normal human mammary cells. In Japan, mekabu is widely consumed as a safe, inexpensive food. Our results suggest that mekabu has potential for chemoprevention of human breast cancer.
Iodine Alters Gene Expression in Breast Cancer Cells.
(9) http://www.medsci.org/v05p0189
Int J Med Sci 2008; 5:189-196 . Iodine Alters Gene Expression in the MCF7 Breast Cancer Cell Line: Evidence for an Anti-Estrogen Effect of Iodine. Frederick R. Stoddard II1,2, Ari D. Brooks1, Bernard A. Eskin3, Gregg J. Johannes2
The protective effects of iodine on breast cancer have been postulated from epidemiologic evidence and described in animal models. The molecular mechanisms responsible have not been identified but laboratory evidence suggests that iodine may inhibit cancer promotion through modulation of the estrogen pathway.
To elucidate the role of iodine in breast cancer, the effect of Lugol’s iodine solution (5% I2, 10% KI) on gene expression was analyzed in the estrogen responsive MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Microarray analysis identified 29 genes that were up-regulated and 14 genes that were down-regulated in response to iodine/iodide treatment. The altered genes included several involved in hormone metabolism as well as genes involved in the regulation of cell cycle progression, growth and differentiation.
Molecular Iodine to Treat Breast Cancer
(10) http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_pwwi/is_200610/ai_n16809836/
Research Calls for Use of Molecular Iodine to Treat Breast Cancer. Market Wire, October, 2006
(11) http://iodine4health.com/research/cann_2000_iodine_selenium_breast_cancer.pdf
Cancer Causes and Control 11: 121±127, 2000. Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Hypothesis: Iodine, selenium and the development of breast cancer. Stephen A. Cann , Johannes P. van Netten Christiaan van Netten. Canada Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
Lung Cancer and Iodine
(12)http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/63/16/5065
Cancer research 2003;63(16):5065-72.
Nonradioactive Iodide Effectively Induces Apoptosis in Genetically Modified Lung Cancer Cells1  Ling Zhang, Sherven Sharma, Li X. Zhu, Takahiko Kogai, Jerome M. Hershman, Gregory A. Brent, Steven M. Dubinett2 and Min Huang2  Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine  University of California Los Angeles
We assessed a nonradioactive approach to induce apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer by a novel iodide uptake and retention mechanism. To enhance tumor apoptosis, we transduced non-small cell lung cancer cells with retroviral vectors containing the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) and thyroperoxidase (TPO) genes. Expression of NIS and TPO facilitated concentration of iodide in tumors. As a consequence of the marked increase in intracellular levels of iodide, apoptosis was seen in >95% of NIS/TPO-modified lung cancer cells. Intraperitoneal injection of potassium iodide resulted in significant tumor volume reduction in NIS/TPO-modified tumor xenografts without apparent adverse effects in SCID mice. Iodide induced an increase in the level of reactive oxygen species. Iodide-induced apoptosis is sensitive to N-acetylcysteine inhibition, suggesting an important role by reactive oxygen species in this apoptotic process. In addition, iodide-induced apoptosis is associated with overexpression of CDKN1A (p21/Waf1)and down-regulation of survivin at both mRNA and protein levels. This is the first report demonstrating that a therapeutic dose of nonradioactive iodide has potent efficacy and high selectivity against lung cancer when used in combination with genetic modification of cancer cells to express the NIS/TPOgenes.
Spontanous Remission of Lung Cancer With Iodine Treatment
(13) http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pdf_extract/85/16/1342
J Natl Cancer Inst. 1993 Aug 18;85(16):1342-3.
Spontaneous remission of metastatic lung cancer following myxedema coma–an apoptosis-related phenomenon? Hercbergs A, Leith JT. Patient was incidently treated with Amiodorone which contains iodine 9 mg day
http://www.fen.bilkent.edu.tr/~tazebay/papers/paper1.pdf
2000 Nature America Inc. The mammary gland iodide transporter is expressed during lactation and in breast cancer. UYGAR H. TAZEBAY  et al.

Sebastiano Venturi
http://web.tiscali.it/iodio/
Dr. Sebastiano Venturi investigator on Iodine Deficiency Disorders and Iodine metabolism
http://web.tiscali.it/iodio/
Is there a role for iodine in breast diseases? S. Venturi
Iodine for breast pain
14) http://osteomed2.com/Documents/Supraphysiological_iodine_and_breastpain.pdf
The Effect of Supraphysiologic Levels of Iodine on Patients with Cyclic Mastalgia
Jack H. Kessler, PhD Symbollon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Framingham, Massachusetts
Patients recorded statistically significant decreases in pain by month 3 in the 3.0 and
6.0 mg/day treatment groups, but not the 1.5 mg/day or placebo group; more than 50% of the 6.0 mg/day treatment group recorded. A clinically significant reduction in overall pain. All doses were associated with an acceptable safety profile. No dose-related
increase in any adverse event was observed.
Peter PA Smyth
15http://breast-cancer-research.com/content/5/5/235
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/bcr638.pdf
Commentary The thyroid, iodine and breast cancer by Peter PA Smyth Endocrine laboratory, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, and Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Ireland Published: 29 July 2003 Breast Cancer Res 2003, 5:235-238
Previous studies [2,3] that showed both increased goiter rates and increased prevalence of thyroid enlargement by ultrasound in patients with breast cancer [4].
It has been postulated that formation of iodolipids such as iodolactones or iodoaldehydes represents a form of thyroidal autoregulation [26], which may be the mode of action of iodide inhibition of thyroid function in the Wolff–Chaikoff effect [27-29].  In addition to their role in inhibiting thyroid function, these compounds may act as antiproliferative agents in the thyroid [26].
An anticarcinogenic role for iodine in experimental animals was suggested by the work of Funahashi and coworkers [33], who found that administration of Lugol’s iodine or
iodine-rich Wakame seaweed to rats treated with the carcinogen dimethyl benzanthracene suppressed the development of mammary tumours. In further studies [34], the same group demonstrated that seaweed induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells with greater potency than that of fluorouracil, a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat breast cancer. This finding led the authors to speculate that ‘seaweed may be applicable for prevention of breast cancer’.  This hypothesis is in accord with the relatively low breast cancer rate reported in Japan [35], where the normal diet is seaweed rich, and with increasing breast cancer rates in Japanese women who emigrate [36] or consume a western style diet [37]. The frequent coexistence of iodine and selenium deficiencies and the importance of replacing both to maintain thyroid function is well established
Iodine Resolves Fibrocytic Breast Disease - Ghent and Eskin 1993
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8221402
Can J Surg. 1993 Oct;36(5):453-60. Iodine replacement in fibrocystic disease of the breast.
Ghent WR, Eskin BA, Low DA, Hill LP. Department of Surgery, Queen’s University, Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston, Ont.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the response of patients with fibrocystic breast disease to iodine replacement therapy. CONCLUSIONS:  Molecular iodine is nonthyrotropic and was the most beneficial.
Iodine Project
http://www.optimox.com/pics/Iodine/opt_Research_I.shtml
Guy Abraham Iodine Project Optimox
http://cypress.he.net/~bigmacnc/drflechas/index.htm
George Flechas MD
https://www.drbrownstein.com/bookstore_Iodine.php
David Brownstein MD Iodine Book
http://www.ei-resource.org/expert-columns/dr.-jacob-teitelbaums-column/iodine-deficiency-%11-an-old-epidemic-is-back/
Jacob Teitelbaum MD on Iodine
http://www.jpands.org/vol11no4/millerd.pdf
Extrathyroidal Benefits of Iodine by Donald W. Miller, Jr., M.D.
Iodine Links
Breast Cancer Choices.org
http://www.breastcancerchoices.org/iodineref2.html
Investigating the Relationship Between Iodine and the Breast
PART 2:  WHAT ARE IODINE’S MECHANISMS OF ACTION? OBSERVATIONS AND  THEORIES
Iodine Treatment Found to Have an Effect on the Expression of Breast Cancer Genes
http://www.breastcancerchoices.org/iodineref3.html
PART 3: WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF IODINE ON BREAST CANCER?
www.breastcancerchoices.org
http://www.breastcancerchoices.org/iodine.html
Research suggests that some breast cancers may be an iodine deficiency disease.
resources on iodine and the breast
Iodine 4 Health
http://iodine4health.com/
http://iodine4health.com/body/breast/breast.htm
IODINE AND THE BREAST
http://www.hacres.com/diet/articles/Iodine.pdf
Recent Advances in Iodine Nutrition by Michael Donaldson, PhD
http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/13/2/116.pdf
Iodine: Deficiency and Therapeutic Considerations Lyn Patrick, ND
Alternative Medicine Review Volume 13, Number 2 2008
http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/11/4/1483.full
In vivo Radioiodide Imaging and Treatment of Breast Cancer Xenografts after MUC1-Driven Expression of the Sodium Iodide Symporter. Roisin M. Dwyer et al. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Results: A 58-fold increase in iodide uptake was observed in infected MUC1-positive T47D cells with no significant increase observed in MUC1-negative MDA-MB-231 cells or in cells infected with the control virus. The in vivo study yielded clear images of Ad/MUC1/NIS-infected tumor xenografts using 123I. Administration of a therapeutic dose of 131I resulted in an 83% reduction in tumor volume, whereas control tumors continued to increase in size (P < 0.01).
Jeffrey Dach MD
http://www.jeffreydach.com/
http://www.drdach.com/
http://www.naturalmedicine101.com/
http://www.truemedmd.com/
Disclaimer click here: http://www.drdach.com/wst_page20.html
The reader is advised to discuss the comments on these pages with his/her personal physicians and to only act upon the advice of his/her personal physician. Also note that concerning an answer which appears as an electronically posted question, I am NOT creating a physician — patient relationship. Although identities will remain confidential as much as possible, as I can not control the media, I can not take responsibility for any breaches of confidentiality that may occur.

Link to this article:

http://jeffreydach.com/2009/11/13/iodine-against-breast-cancer-the-overwhelming-evidence-by-jeffrey-dach-md.aspx

 http://bioidenticalmds.blogspot.com/2013/04/iodine-treats-breast-cancer.html



Copyright (c) 2009,2010 Jeffrey Dach MD All Rights Reserved. This article may be reproduced on the internet without permission, provided there is a link to this page and proper credit is given.
FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of issues of significance. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.