The Overlooked Trace Mineral Essential To Your Health

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t worry much about whether you’re getting enough iodine in your diet every day. The latest statistics show, however, that maybe you should—because this trace mineral is as essential as they come.

While iodine has few rich dietary sources, it’s fairly well known that ample intake is nevertheless critical to proper thyroid function—one of the primary reasons behind the introduction of iodized table salt.^1-3 Even so, as many as 1 out of every 7 women still have suboptimal iodine levels in this country—a concern that becomes even more pronounced when you consider the fact that iodine is also critical to female reproductive health.⁴

In fact, next to the thyroid gland, the highest concentrations of iodine can be found in the ovaries—and population studies have revealed a strong correlation between iodine intake and measures of breast, endometrial and ovarian health in a number of countries, from Russia to Canada.^5-9

Unfortunately, research also shows that optimal breast health demands 20 to 40 times the iodine required for effective thyroid support.^10-11 So needless to say, a sprinkle of iodized salt alone won’t suffice, with data indicating that you would need to consume more than a quarter pound daily just to meet the levels of iodine consumed by the mainland Japanese—a population that’s known for its remarkable ovarian and breast health.

Of course, it’s not just women who are at risk from this dietary deficiency: Thyroid-inhibiting goitrogens are all too common in the environment—meaning that many adults in search of lasting thyroid health, whether male or female, need a daily boost in iodine that’s large enough to both neutralize these substances and to keep overall levels up to snuff.^12-13

The good news is that a high-quality iodine supplement—such as CP’s Iodoral®—can easily make up for the levels of this trace mineral that your diet lacks. This clinically tested form of iodine has been uniquely designed to eliminate iodine’s characteristic unpleasant taste and tendency toward gastric irritation. And simply combining it with abundant fluids and a magnesium-rich diet—not to mention ample intake of the B-vitamins niacin and riboflavin—will help to ensure that you achieve maximum results.^{14-15, 4}

Niacin and riboflavin (also known as B3 and B2) are essential precursors to “cofactors” that play an integral role in your body’s ability to use iodine effectively.¹⁵ In combination, these two nutrients can offer critical assistance in your effort to achieve iodine sufficiency—and the superior thyroid and reproductive health that goes with it—for life. You’ll find this combo featured in the high-potency formula called ATP Cofactors, available from Complementary Prescriptions®.

References:

1. Hollowell J, Staehling N, Hannon W, Flanders D, Gunter E, Maberly G. 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 Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 1998;83:3401-3408.

2. Dunn J. Iodine Supplementation and the Prevention of Cretinism. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1993;678:158-168.

3. Utiger RD. Thyrotoxicosis, Hypothyroidism, and the Painful Thyroid. In Endocrinology & Metabolism, Felig P, Frohman LA, Ed. McGraw-Hill, Inc., Medical Publishing Division. 2001:275.

4. Abraham GE. The Safe and Effective Implementation of Orthoiodosupplementation in Medical Practice. The Original Internist. 2004;11:17-36.

5. Slebodzinski AB. Ovarian iodide uptake and triiodothyronine generation in follicular fluid. The enigma of the thyroid ovary interaction. Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2005;29(1):97-103.

6. Eskin B, Grotkowski CE, Connolly CP, et al. Different Tissue Responses for Iodine and Iodide in Rat Thyroid and Mammary Glands. Biological Trace Element Research. 1995;49:9-19.

7. Finley JW, Bogardus GM. Breast cancer and thyroid disease. Quart Rev Surg Obstet Gynec. 1960;17:139-147.

8. Thomas BS, Bulbrook RD, Russell MJ, et al. Thyroid function in early breast cancer. Enrop J Cancer Clin Oncol. 1983;19:1213-1219.

9. Thomas BS, Bulbrook RD, Goodman MJ. Thyroid Function and the Incidence of Breast Cancer in Hawaiian, British and Japanese Women. Int J Cancer. 1986;38:325-329.

10. Ghent W, Eskin B, Low D, Hill L. Iodine Replacement in Fibrocystic Disease of the Breast. Can J Surg. 1993;36:453-460.

11. Abraham GE, The Concept of Orthoiodosupplementation and its Clinical Implications. The Original Internist. 2004;11(2):29-38.

12. Ghandrakant C, Kapdim MD, Wolfe JN. Breast Cancer. Relationship to Thyroid Supplements for Hypothyroidism. JAMA. 1976;238:1124.

13. Lakshmy P, Rao S, Sesikeran B, et al. Iodine Metabolism in Response to Goitrogen Induced Altered Thyroid Status Under Conditions of Moderate and High Intake of Iodine. Hormone & Metabolic Res. 1995;27:450-454.

14. Abraham GE, Flechas JD, Hakala JC. Optimum Levels of Iodine for Greatest Mental and Physical Health. The Original Internist. 2002;9:5-20.

15. Abraham GE, Flechas JD. The Effect of Daily Ingestion of 100 mg Iodine Combined with High Doses of Vitamins B2 and B3 (ATP Cofactors) in Five Subjects with Fibromyalgia. The Original Internist. 2008 March;15(1):8-15.