Iodine: for the Thyroid
Iodine (I)
For humans – against dementia and hearing loss, for the thyroid gland.
In the human body iodine is essential for the functioning of the thyroid gland. Its deficiency leads to endemic goiter, hypothyroidism, and atherosclerosis.
Children suffer the most from iodine deficiency, as a child’s level of intellectual development largely depends on iodine content. Children find it difficult to learn in school, acquire new knowledge and skills. In Ukraine, 35% of the population suffers from iodine deficiency, often unaware of it.
Since ancient times, it has been known that iodine deficiency in the body, which manifests externally as an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), leads to cretinism (dementia) in individuals.
Since ancient times, it has been known that iodine deficiency in the body, which manifests externally as an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), leads to cretinism (dementia) in individuals.
Napoleon Bonaparte required examination of goiter in recruits (especially those who grew up in mountainous areas where food and water contain very little iodine) when enlisting in the army – he had no use for mentally deficient, hard-of-hearing soldiers.
Iodine was introduced into homeopathy more than 200 years ago by its founder Christian F.S. Hahnemann (1755-1843), and iodine is used taking into account the type of patient. The patient indicated for iodine is often thin, nervous, irritable, full of anxiety for themselves and their loved ones. Excitement alternates with depression, they tire quickly, are constantly hungry, suffer from heat, and sweat easily.
The average daily requirement for iodine in the human body is 120–150 mcg. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, it is 175 and 200 mcg, respectively. Iodine deficiency can develop when this element is introduced into the body in amounts less than 10 mcg/day.
Normally, the human body contains 15–25 mg of iodine (according to some data, up to 50 mg), with half of this amount located in the thyroid gland. The concentration of iodine in the thyroid gland is 1000–12000 mcg/g, while in the liver it is 0.2 mcg/g, in the ovaries and lungs – 0.07 mcg/g, in the kidneys – 0.04 mcg/g, in lymph nodes – 0.03 mcg/g, and in the brain, testes, and muscles – 0.02 mcg/g. Iodine is likely also accumulated in the gastric mucosa, salivary glands, and mammary glands during lactation.
Iodine is primarily absorbed in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract. Iodides are quickly absorbed in the intestines.
Excess iodine is excreted by the kidneys. The level of excretion correlates well with the level of consumption, so it is used to assess iodine intake.
The consumption of natural products containing iodine does not cause side effects, even with excessive iodine content.
The regulation of thyroid hormone levels is complex, involving not only the thyroid gland but also the pituitary gland, brain, and peripheral tissues.
The biological role in the human body. Iodine regulates the activity of the thyroid gland and pituitary gland, prevents the accumulation of radioactive iodine, and provides protection against radiation. Iodine is a structural component of thyroid hormones – thyroxine T4 and triiodothyronine T3. The precursor of T4 and T3, which are low-molecular-weight substances, is iodinated thyroid protein – thyroglobulin, the limited proteolysis of which leads to the formation of T4. T3 is formed from T4 in the process of deiodination under the influence of Se-dependent deiodinase. Thus, iodine and selenium are metabolically closely related – iodine in the body does not function without selenium.
The main metabolic function of these hormones is to increase ATP synthesis and the associated increase in oxygen consumption by mitochondria during oxidative phosphorylation. Through this universal mechanism, thyroid hormones exert a systemic effect on the body. Therefore, iodine deficiency leads to a decrease in basal metabolism. Primarily, it affects the state of the central nervous system.
The main metabolic function of these hormones is to increase ATP synthesis and the associated increase in oxygen consumption by mitochondria during oxidative phosphorylation. Through this universal mechanism, thyroid hormones exert a systemic effect on the body. Therefore, iodine deficiency leads to a decrease in basal metabolism. Primarily, it affects the state of the central nervous system.
The child must receive the necessary amount of iodine while still in the womb. In children, hypothyroidism leads to profound disturbances in higher nervous activity, incomplete development of intellectual capabilities, and cretinism.
In adults, iodine deficiency leads to mental inertia, sluggishness, decreased intellectual abilities, reduced strength and frequency of heartbeats, and diastolic hypertension. As a result of the inhibition of energy supply processes, there is underoxidation of metabolic products, leading to a disturbance of the endoecological state of the body and its “sludging.” Simultaneously, the oxidation of cholesterol is inhibited, and the accumulation of its atherogenic forms occurs, leading to early atherosclerosis, and in combination with cardiovascular dysfunctions – to myocardial infarction and stroke. Due to the deficiency of energy production, there is a generalized decrease in muscle tone, lethargy of striated and smooth muscles, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract.
Iodine deficiency leads to immunodeficiencies, increasing the risk of tumor development, primarily – thyroid tumors.
The nosological form of iodine deficiency manifestation is endemic goiter – a disease quite common in iodine-deficient regions of Ukraine and Russia. In the etiology of this disease, both iodine deficiency and the deficiency of other trace elements, primarily selenium, cobalt, and copper, are dangerous.
Endemic goiter is a compensatory enlargement of the thyroid gland in response to low iodine intake in the body, aimed at increasing the volume of the gland to capture more iodine circulating in the blood. It is called endemic goiter because it develops in a sufficiently large number of people living in one area where the amount of iodine in the environment, i.e., in water, soil, and food products, is reduced.
Graves’ disease (goiter) is characterized by excess fat, sluggishness, and abnormal growth of the thyroid gland.
The nosological form of iodine deficiency manifestation is endemic goiter – a disease quite common in iodine-deficient regions of Ukraine and Russia. In the etiology of this disease, both iodine deficiency and the deficiency of other trace elements, primarily selenium, cobalt, and copper, are dangerous.
Endemic goiter is a compensatory enlargement of the thyroid gland in response to low iodine intake in the body, aimed at increasing the volume of the gland to capture more iodine circulating in the blood. It is called endemic goiter because it develops in a sufficiently large number of people living in one area where the amount of iodine in the environment, i.e., in water, soil, and food products, is reduced.
Graves’ disease (goiter) is characterized by excess fat, sluggishness, and abnormal growth of the thyroid gland.
Synergists and antagonists of iodine. Iodine-containing supplements should not be taken simultaneously with lithium carbonate. Lithium reduces the activity of the thyroid gland, while iodine enhances the side effects of lithium.
Antagonists of iodine include excessive amounts of cobalt, manganese, lead, calcium, bromine, chlorine, fluorine. The enhancement of the strumogenic effect is observed in humans with a deficiency of selenium, zinc, copper.
In all these cases, there may be a disturbance in iodine metabolism and its utilization by the thyroid gland.
Antagonists of iodine include excessive amounts of cobalt, manganese, lead, calcium, bromine, chlorine, fluorine. The enhancement of the strumogenic effect is observed in humans with a deficiency of selenium, zinc, copper.
In all these cases, there may be a disturbance in iodine metabolism and its utilization by the thyroid gland.
Signs of iodine deficiency: endemic goiter, hypothyroidism (nervous-psychic disorders, lethargy, episodes of unexplained melancholy, depressed mood), cretinism (sharp lag in mental and physical development, short stature, skeletal deformities), irritability, drowsiness, forgetfulness, deterioration of memory and attention, frequent headaches due to increased intracranial pressure, swelling of the face, limbs, and torso; increased cholesterol levels; bradycardia; constipation; deaf-muteness, decreased fertility, stillbirths, congenital developmental anomalies, increased perinatal mortality; paralysis.
Frequent colds and infectious diseases, decreased hemoglobin levels may also indicate a low amount of iodine in the body. Iodine deficiency in children can manifest as a lag in mental development. Additionally, iodine deficiency is associated with breast cancer, fatigue, neonatal hypothyroidism (cretinism), and weight gain.
Frequent colds and infectious diseases, decreased hemoglobin levels may also indicate a low amount of iodine in the body. Iodine deficiency in children can manifest as a lag in mental development. Additionally, iodine deficiency is associated with breast cancer, fatigue, neonatal hypothyroidism (cretinism), and weight gain.
The main manifestations of excess iodine: formation of goiter, development of hyperthyroidism, thyrotoxicosis; headaches, fatigue, weakness, depression, tachycardia; numbness and tingling of the skin, rash, acne, development of toxicodermia (iododerma) caused by excess or intolerance to iodine preparations, development of aseptic inflammation (iodism) of the mucous membranes in places of iodine secretion (respiratory tract, salivary glands, paranasal sinuses).
Iodine is necessary: in hypothyroidism, myxedema, atherosclerosis, chronic mercury and lead poisoning, in the treatment of inflammatory processes of the upper respiratory tract.
Food sources of iodine: sea fish and seafood, especially – sugar kelp (seaweed), nuts and seeds: walnuts, especially their green husk (iodine content in it – 50 mcg per 100 g of raw material; a rich iodine tincture 1:5 can be made from it), sesame seeds; fruits: quince, grapes, viburnum, black rowan, feijoa, persimmon, blueberry; legumes: beans, soybeans, peas; greens of vegetable crops: garden parsley (greens), asparagus, arugula, garlic greens, spinach, sorrel; vegetables: ginger, white cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower, beetroot, tomatoes, pumpkin (seeds), garlic; mushrooms, particularly – champignons.
100 g of pollock fish meets the daily requirement for iodine.
100 g of pollock fish meets the daily requirement for iodine.