IODINE

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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IODINE
Essense-of-Life.com encourages personal research and a balanced view of health and nutrition topics. The information links below are intended to provide a broad overview of various research findings and hypothesis on the role of nutrition in health. This information is not intended to promote any particular product. Unless noted, the articles below may NOT include any scientific references or sources.
1.	Iodine Overview by the Linus Pauling Institute		Iodine is required by humans for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Iodine is an essential component of the thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), and is therefore essential for normal thyroid function. Thyroid hormones regulate a number of physiologic processes, including growth, development, metabolism, and reproductive function. Thyroid enlargement, or goiter, is one of the earliest and most visible signs of iodine deficiency. Some foods contain substances that interfere with iodine utilization: casava, some species of millet and cruciferous vegetables (for example, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts) and some soybean isoflavones.
2.	Iodine on MedLine Plus		Chronic iodine deficiency can lead to numerous health problems in children and adults, including thyroid gland dysfunction (including goiter) and various neurologic, gastrointestinal, and skin abnormalities. Iodine deficiency in pregnant or nursing mothers can lead to significant neurocognitive deficits in their infants. "Cretinism" or severe mental retardation is a rare outcome of severe iodine deficiency during early development. Growth stunting, apathy, impaired movement, or speech/hearing problems may occur. Iodine deficiency is rare in industrialized countries such as the United States, due to the enrichment of table salt and cattle feed with iodine. Uses may include goiter prevention and treatment, radiation emergencies, iodine deficiency, cancer, CONTAINS REFERENCES
3.	Role of Thyroid Hormones		One important function of thyroid hormone (TH) is helping the body convert food into energy and heat. TH elevates the heart rate to meet the increased oxygen needs. TH also regulates body temperature. Injury and illness lower TH levels. TH imbalance has a profound effect on cardiovascular fitness because TH helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Estrogen partially blocks the efficiency of TH, so women compensate by producing more TH than men. TH plays a major role in the development in all vertebrates. In humans, thyroid hormone plays a notable role in brain development from the middle of pregnancy to the second year of life. Hypothyroidism is the second leading cause of high cholesterol, after diet. CONTAINS REFERENCES
4.	The High Cholesterol Thyroid Connection: Undiagnosed Thyroid Disease May Be the Reason for Your High Cholesterol		As many as ten million Americans with high cholesterol levels may not know that their cholesterol is elevated due to undiagnosed thyroid problems. Undiagnosed and undertreated hypothyroidism can cause elevated cholesterol. The Food and Drug Administration recommend thyroid testing in patients with high cholesterol levels.
5.	Perchlorate Controversy Calls for Improving Iodine Nutrition		Perchlorate is a water pollutant that can potentially interfere with thyroid function. Perchlorate accumulates in fresh vegetables, such as lettuce, if they are irrigated with polluted water. The chemical is of concern because it amplifies thyroid problems in people who are iodine deficient. Some scientists have concluded that vegetarians, and especially vegans, can be more susceptible to thyroid problems as a result of perchlorate exposure because they may have lower iodine intakes than the general public. Impaired thyroid function is especially problematic for women who are pregnant or nursing a child. CONTAINS REFERENCES
6.	Vegans and Iodine		North American vegans should take a modest iodine supplement; 75-150 mcg every day or every other day should be enough. CONTAINS REFERENCES
7.	Thyroid Hormones: Pregnancy and Fetal Development		Thyroid hormones are critical for development of the fetal and neonatal brain, as well as for many other aspects of fetal growth. Hypothyroidism in either the mother or fetus frequently results in fetal disease; in humans, this includes a high incidence of mental retardation. CONTAINS REFERENCES
8.	Nonradioactive Iodide Effectively Induces Apoptosis in Genetically Modified Lung Cancer Cells		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.. SCIENTIFIC STUDY
Key words for internet research: iodine, iodine and vegans, iodine deficiency, iodine and goiter, iodine and seaweed, iodine and fetal development, iodine and high cholesterol, iodine and cancer research, potassium iodide, iodine mineral, iodine supplement, iodine nutritional supplement, iodine dietary supplement, iodine mineral supplement

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IODINE HAS NOT BEEN EVALUATED OR APPROVED BY THE FDA FOR
+ CANCER		+ FETAL DEVELOPMENT		+ GOITER
+ HIGH CHOLESTEROL		+ IODINE DEFICIENCY		+ RADIATION EMERGENCIES

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*Statements on this website have NOT been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are NOT intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease; research is ongoing. The information provided on this website comes from a variety of online sources. Please refer to the "More Information On..." links near the bottom of each of our website pages to view these information sources. READ FULL DISCLAIMER HERE