Iodine Fights Thyroid,
Breast & Prostate Cancer
(Includes excerpts from Dr. West and Dr. Ware.)
Introduction
Cancer comes in many different forms – with different problems accompanying each one!
We have spent over 30 years searching for natural answers that can help cancer, or a particular types of cancer. Medical has also looked for a magic bullet that will help all cancers. Alas, so far that hasn’t happened.
That is, of course, until we found Dr. Li’s research that inspired our blend of extracts, enzymes and nutrients in our AngioGenesis Factor supplement. It has been designed to fight ALL types of tumors by helping the body dissolve the blood vessels that feeds the cancer tumors. We have been extremely happy with it and you can read about it in Cancer Protocol.
However, the topic of this article is the role of Iodine in the fight against some specific cancers.
Take Iodine for Breast, Prostate or Thyroid Cancer!
(If not, you may be missing a very helpful and very inexpensive aid.)
We like to base recommendations on clinical studies. In this case, the evidence is not direct proof – but there is a substantial amount of indirect evidence for taking iodine to fight these cancers.
It does makes sense. Iodine is an essential trace element. Since the body cannot make elements, we must get iodine from food and drinking water. The ocean, of course, is the largest source because a lot of iodine has been leached out of the land into the ocean. In fact, even land far removed from the oceans can have low iodine levels (such as the “goiter belt” in the U.S. Midwest).
This geographical association of the prevalence of goiters and reproductive cancer problems was addressed a long time ago by adding iodine to table salt. (1) This is especially true regarding one of the most serious forms of cancer there is – thyroid cancer!
If you’re over 60 years old, you might be interested to know that autopsy studies have shown that up to 100% of men and women over 60 have thyroid cancer! Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of these cancers are benign. They rarely cause a problem and are often only accidentally discovered.
One reason is that thyroid cancer comes in several different forms. The most common and least dangerous form is papillary carcinoma. The potentially dangerous forms are the follicular and the anaplastic carcinomas.
What We Know About Iodine and Thyroid Cancer
One review article says this about the most dangerous forms of thyroid cancer (follicular and the anaplastic carcinomas):
“Circumstances and conditions which cause iodine deficiency, through suboptimal intake in water and food… have been associated to increased risk of thyroid cancer, most notably follicular and anaplastic carcinomas….At least in some countries (Switzerland), a favorable impact of the introduction of iodized salt on mortality from thyroid cancer has been reported.” (2)
In another paper, the author states,
“Animal experiments have demonstrated a clear increase in incidence of thyroid epithelial cell carcinomas after prolonged iodine deficiency….However, the overall incidence of differentiated thyroid carcinoma is generally not considered to be influenced by the iodine intake of a population, whereas the distribution of the types of thyroid carcinoma seems to be related to the intake of iodine, with fewer of the more aggressive follicular and anaplastic carcinomas and more papillary carcinomas in iodine rich areas.” (3)
Studies show iodine does what lutein, zeaxanthin and beta carotene cannot do. This is implying that taking more iodine, not so much in prevent the benign forms of thyroid cancer, but in possibly helping prevent the aggressive, dangerous forms!
Since all of us over 60 already have thyroid cancer, all we need to really be concerned about is whether or not the cancer we have is the aggressive kind or not.
Here is How it Works
Iodine is necessary for the production of thyroid hormones, enzymes and is involved in numerous biochemical pathways. Insufficient iodine intake can cause abnormal neuronal development, mental retardation, congenital abnormalities, spontaneous abortion, miscarriage, congenital hypothyroidism, infertility, goiter, and as well appears to increase the risk of thyroid, breast, prostate, and gastric cancer.
For example, after the Chernobyl disaster, thyroid uptake of radioactive iodine was enhanced by an iodine deficiency. Now, large doses of potassium iodide are considered the best protection for the thyroid in the event of exposure to radioactive iodine. Some individuals living downwind from nuclear power stations actually keep a bottle of high-dose potassium iodide on hand in case there is an accident.
- Iodine is critical for the formation of thyroid hormones.
- And thyroid hormones are essential for life.
They are the hormones that specifically tell the cells to do what they are supposed to do. So when you’re iodine deficient, your cells stop working and things start falling apart.
The brain then registers this and sends stimulating signals to the thyroid to produce the hormones the body needs so badly. This causes the thyroid to overwork, and eventually the over stimulation of the thyroid gland can result in the formation of an aggressive thyroid cancer.
The best form of iodine is called Lugol’s Solution. It was developed way back in 1829 by, of course, Dr. Lugol. It is a mixture of potassium iodide and elemental iodine. You can buy it at Amazon in either a liquid or a tablet but the tablet form is the best way to take it.
Dosage
Most adults take one 12.5 mg tablet per day (which is considerably more than most multivitamins include). This 12.5 mg is the average amount of iodine that Japanese men and women get in their diets. (And the Japanese have much lower risks for both prostate and breast cancer.)
And here’s an interesting statistic. When Japanese men and women move to the U.S. and adopt an American diet (which contains only a fraction of the iodine in the traditional Japanese diet) they have the same cancer risks as Americans!
As early as 1976 it was postulated that iodine deficiency was associated with the risk of prostate, endometrial, ovarian and breast cancer. This was based on geographical associations of the prevalence of goiter and the incidence of reproductive cancers. (4)
All this suggests that a larger dosage of iodine than the “minimum” is worth considering.
References:
- Patrick L. Iodine: deficiency and therapeutic considerations. Altern Med Rev 2008 June;13(2):116-27.
- Franceschi S, Servizio di Epidemiologia, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico. Iodine intake and thyroid carcinoma–a potential risk factor. Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes: Official Journal, German Society of Endocrinology [and] German Diabetes Association [1998, 106 Suppl. 3:S38-44]
- Ulla Feldt-Rasmussen. Iodine and Cancer. Thyroid, Volume: 11 Issue 5: July 9, July 2004, 11(5): 483-486.
- Brownstein D. Iodine. Why You Need it. Why You Can’t Live Without It. West Bloomfield, MI: Medical Alternatives Press; 2009.