Iodine Deficiency - An Epidemic I Alternative Medicine I Holistic Chiropractor

In this video, Dr. Huntoon discusses what your symptoms indicate and what you should be aware of when making a choice with your health.

Having any symptom is NOT NORMAL. Understanding what the symptom means and supporting balance within the body is prudent for health.

Iodine is vital for your overall health. Having Iodine Deficiency will create severe problems. Making sure to have a proper evaluation and appropriate conservative care versus some of the radical Medical care is important to consider.

Come learn how to remedy this Once and For All!

Dr. Huntoon is ready to help you heal when you are.

Iodine is an element that is needed for the production of thyroid hormone. The body does not make iodine, so it is an essential part of your diet. Iodine is found in various foods (see Table 1 below). If you do not have enough iodine in your body, you cannot make enough thyroid hormone. Thus, iodine deficiency can lead to enlargement of the thyroid (goiter), hypothyroidism and to mental retardation in infants and children whose mothers were iodine deficient during pregnancy.

Before the 1920s, iodine deficiency was common in the Great Lakes, Appalachian, and Northwestern U.S. regions and in most of Canada. Treatment of iodine deficiency by the introduction of iodized salt has virtually eliminated the “goiter belt” in these areas. However, many other parts of the world do not have enough iodine available through their diet and iodine deficiency continues to be an important public health problem globally. Approximately 40% of the world’s population remains at risk for iodine deficiency.

Iodine Deficiency Causes and Dietary Sources

Since the body does not make iodine, it relies on the diet to have enough iodine. The availability of iodine in foods differs in various regions of the world. Individuals in the U.S. can maintain adequate iodine in their diet by using iodized table salt (unless they have to restrict the amount of salt in their diet), by eating foods high in iodine, particularly dairy products, seafood, meat, some breads, and eggs, and by taking a multivitamin containing iodine. However, the amount of iodine in foods is not listed on food packaging in the U.S., and it can be difficult to identify sources of iodine in foods.

Iodine is present naturally in soil and seawater. The availability of iodine in foods differs in various regions of the world. Individuals in the United States can maintain adequate iodine in their diet by using iodized table salt (unless they have to restrict the amount of salt in their diet), by eating foods high in iodine, particularly dairy products, seafood, meat, some breads, and eggs, and by taking a multivitamin containing iodine (see below). However, the amount of iodine in foods is not listed on food packaging in the U.S., and it can be difficult to identify sources of iodine in foods.

What Are The Symptoms of Iodine Deficiency

Symptoms of Iodine Deficiency

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF IODINE DEFICIENCY?

All of the symptoms of iodine deficiency are related to its effect on the thyroid:

GOITER – Without adequate iodine, the thyroid progressively enlarges (develops a goiter) as it tries to keep up with demand for thyroid hormone production. Worldwide, iodine deficiency is the most common cause of thyroid enlargement and goiter. Within a goiter, nodules can develop. Patients with a large goiter may experience symptoms of choking, especially when lying down, and difficulty swallowing and breathing.

HYPOTHYROIDISM – As the body’s iodine levels fall, hypothyroidism may develop, since iodine is essential for making thyroid hormone. While this is uncommon in the United States, iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism worldwide.

PREGNANCY-RELATED PROBLEMS – Iodine deficiency is especially important in women who are pregnant or nursing their infants. Severe iodine deficiency in the mother has been associated with miscarriages, stillbirth, preterm delivery, and congenital abnormalities in their babies. Children of mothers with severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy can have mental retardation and problems with growth, hearing, and speech. In the most severe form, an underactive thyroid can result in cretinism (a syndrome characterized by permanent brain damage, mental retardation, deaf mutism, spasticity, and short stature), though this is not seen in the United States. Congenital hypothyroidism due to iodine deficiency is the most common preventable cause of mental retardation in the world. Even mild iodine deficiency during pregnancy, which may be present in some women in the United States, may be associated with low intelligence in children.

Traditional Medical Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Iodine deficiency is diagnosed across populations and not specifically in individuals. Since iodine is released from the body through the urine, the best way to determine iodine deficiency across a large population is to measure the amounts of iodine in urine samples. Iodine deficiency is defined as a median urinary iodine concentration less than 50 μg/L in a population (see Table 2 below).

In the United States, iodine status has remained generally adequate in the last 2 decades although studies have shown that urinary iodine levels dropped by about half between the early 1970s and the early 1990s. However, iodine deficiency is a major issue in other parts of the world, including parts of Europe, Africa and Asia.

TABLE 2. MEDIAN POPULATION URINARY IODINE VALUES AND IODINE NUTRITION

MEDIAN URINARY IODINE CONCENTRATION (μg/L)	CORRESPONDING IODINE INTAKE (μg/day)	IODINE NUTRITION
<20	<30	SEVERE DEFICIENCY
20-49	30-74	MODERATE DEFICIENCY
50-99	75-149	MILD DEFICIENCY
100-199	150-299	OPTIMAL
200-299	300-449	MORE THAN ADEQUATE
>299	>449	POSSIBLE EXCESS

UNITED STATES RECOMMENDATIONS – The Institute of Medicine has set the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for iodine in adult men and women at 150 μg per day. Individuals who add tablet salt to their food regularly should use iodized salt. One teaspoon of iodized salt contains approximately 400 μg iodine. Most iodine-containing multivitamins have at least 150 μg iodine, but only about half of the types of multivitamins in the U.S. contain iodine.

The RDA is 220 μg iodine per day for pregnant women and 290 μg iodine per day for breastfeeding women. Because the effects of iodine deficiency are most severe in pregnant women and their babies, the American Thyroid Association has recommended that all pregnant and breastfeeding women in the U.S. and Canada take a prenatal multivitamin containing 150 μg iodine per day.

Dr. Huntoon's Alternative Medical Treatment Options

Total Body Iodine Fulfillment or Sufficiency can finally resolve tough, stubborn problems that resist all other treatments. Called Orthoiodo-supplementation, this nutritional approach employs elemental iodine supplements until the thyroid gland and all other iodine-sensitive sites in the body have reached Iodine Sufficiency.

The most commonly difficult problems for which this therapy has been called a panacea are: fibrocystic breasts, polycystic ovary syndrome, hypo and hyperthyroid (with or without goiter), brain fog, constipation, obesity, diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), and even some heart problems - most notably irreversible arrhythmia like atrial fibrillation.

Iodine may be displaced from the receptors in the tissues by Chlorine, Fluorine, and Bromine. Chlorine overload may result from drinking and cooking with water from municipal water supplies, or spending extended time in swimming pools and/or hot tubs. Aggressive use of Fluoridation to prevent tooth decay may be a possible factor. Bleached white flour is a significant source of Bromine in the diet. Sometimes replacing these Halogens with Iodine can have dramatic results. Be sure to go slowly!

Synthroid, and other related hormone replacements have been shown to deplete the thyroid and tissue iodine levels. All patients on thyroid therapy should additionally be on iodine therapy. The goal of therapy is to achieve Whole Body Iodine Sufficiency.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU NEED IODINE THERAPY?

Thyroid Patch Test. We will paint a 2" square spot of Tincture Of Iodine on your inner arm. It will result in the following:

If it disappears in less than eight (8) hours, you desperately need iodine.
If it disappears in twenty four (24) hours, you may still need additional iodine.
If it simply stays on your arm and begins to slowly fade in color after a full 24 hours, you have already reached iodine sufficiency.

You can retest yourself every one to two weeks while on therapy. You can use the test to judge your individual dosage need for iodine.

Most patients who need iodine therapy require from three (3) to thirty seven (37) milligrams (mgs) daily.

Using Prolamine Iodine from Standard Process Labs, this means you take from one (1) to twelve (12) tablets a day (up to 4 with each meal).

HOW DO YOU DO THIS IODINE THERAPY?

If your Patch Test is positive, you need iodine therapy.

Build up your dosage slowly, starting from one tablet daily for several days.

Iodine sensitivity is very rare, but may happen. If you experience problems or side effects stop your therapy.

Possible Side Effects among sensitive individuals include skin irritation; watery eyes, nose, and saliva; nervousness or headache. ** If you experience a racing heart, you must stop iodine therapy immediately.**

Increase your dose slowly, and only by one tablet a week. Some people need only a tablet or two, while others require six (6) to twelve (12) Prolamine tablets daily.

At the end of each week repeat the Patch Test and record how long it takes the iodine to disappear from you skin. When it stays there for a longer time (12 to 14 hours may be your maximum) than when you first tested it, you may be able to start taking less Prolamine Iodine each day.

Iodine Sufficiency (when all tissues have adequate iodine) can require up to 12 Prolamine Iodine tablets daily for three months. After three months, reduce your dose to three (3) per day for a month, then one per day. Repeat the patch test in a couple of weeks to make sure you're maintaining your proper levels of Iodine.

Watch for problems, watch for improvements, and see for yourself if Iodine is the missing link in your stubborn health problems.

Others have benefited by using Acupuncture, Homeopathy and Naturopathy.

Complications of Iodine Excess

Taking too much iodine can also cause problems. This is especially true in individuals that already have thyroid problems, such as nodules, hyperthyroidism and autoimmune thyroid disease. Administration of large amounts of iodine through medications (ie Amiodarone), radiology procedures (iodinated intravenous dye) and dietary excess (Dulse, kelp) can cause or worsen hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

In addition, individuals who move from an iodine-deficient region (for example, parts of the US or Europe) to a region with adequate iodine intake (for example, Japan) may also develop thyroid problems since their thyroids have become very good at taking up and using small amounts of iodine. In particular, these patients may develop iodine-induced hyperthyroidism.

Medicines Two Choices for You

Your Solution

We offer the following recommendations as a natural way to avoid Iodine Deficiency

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS

IODINE FULFILLMENT THERAPY

Total Body Iodine Fulfillment or Sufficiency can finally resolve tough, stubborn problems that resist all other treatments. Called Orthoiodo-supplelmentation, this nutritional approach employs elemental iodine supplements until the thyroid gland and all other iodine-sensitive sites in the body have reached Iodine Sufficiency.

The most commonly difficult problems for which this therapy has been called a panacea are: fibrocystic breasts, polycystic ovary syndrome, hypo and hyperthyroid (with or without goiter), brain fog, constipation, obesity, diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), and even some heart problems - most notably irreversible arrhythmia like atrial fibrillation.