Iodine is used to make thyroid hormones

Thyroid hormone production.   Dietary iodine is rapidly absorbed by the intestinal tract, chiefly as iodide, and is then transported by the blood to the thyroid gland. There, iodide is oxidized to iodine and combined with the amino acid tyrosine to produce mono- and di-iodotyrosines (MIT and DIT). Further conversion results in the formation of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), taking place in the thyroid epithelial cells.

Thyroid Gland Hormones – Control Metabolism, Protein Synthesis and Growth

Iodine has been used for >100 years against hypo- and hyper-thyroidism

Dr. Abraham and other thyroid experts have learned that tremendous health benefits ensue by providing whole body iodine sufficiency (i.e. saturating the body with sufficient iodine to supply all its tissues)

Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism.   Whole body iodine sufficiency is the treatment of choice for both hypothyroidism (underactivity of the thyroid gland) and hyperthyroid (overactivity of the thyroid gland) with or without goiter. Doctors achieved up to 90% cure rate with hyperthyroidism  by using high daily doses (6-37mg) of iodine doses which were equally effective in resolving cases of hypothyroidism. Used for more than 100 years, this dose level was once considered normal, but is now generally espoused as being high by today’s medical profession.

Thyroiditis.   Researcher Dr. Guy Abraham has observed several cases of thyroiditis that have been corrected by the simple replacement of iodine.

Iodine protects thyroid against damage

Iodine protects thyroid against damage by H2O2.   High TSH produces hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), which together with iodide is used to form thyroid hormone (TH). A lack of iodide may produce oxidative stress by increasing levels of H₂O₂ (since the H₂O₂has not been used to produce TH).

Iodine increases the production of thyroid hormone back to normal in hypothyroidism

Iodine therapy allows the sluggish thyroid gland to resume normal production of thyroid hormone.   Resolving the problem.

• Use iodine / iodide in preference to thyroid hormone supplementation.   Unfortunately, the mainstream medical treatment prescribed for hypothyroidism and goiter is T4 hormones, instead of simply supplying the missing iodine. Also, although T4 hormones deal with thyroid enlargement (hypertrophy), they do not reduce the risk of hyperplasia (increased cellular reproduction rate i.e. cancer risk ) when the thyroid is iodine-deficient, whereas high-level iodine supplementation decreases both thyroid enlargement and cancer-risk. (Abraham, 2004)
• Synthetic thyroid hormone supplementation significantly increases breast cancer risk

Thyroid Replacement Hormones

Iodine can provide the solution to hyperthyroidism

Sufficient iodine prevents damage to TPO enzyme, which would otherwise lead to stimulation of TH production.    With an iodine deficiency, there will not be enough substrate (i.e. iodine) for thyroid cells to produce iodinated lipids. Lack of iodinated lipids, such as É—-iodolactone, results in a loss of the ‘brake’ in the pathway to oxidize iodide, which may result in a temporary production of too much hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), which can damage the enzyme TPO.

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulates cellular mitochondrial energy-production, which produces H₂O₂ as a by-product. With sufficient iodide, this H₂O₂ is employed in the organification of iodide to iodine to make TH via thyroid peroxidase enzymes (TPO). Without the iodide substrate, the excess H₂O₂ is able to damage TPO, leading to TPO antibodies stimulating the TSH receptors and proliferating the hyperactive cycle.

An 80+ year-old study used 9 mg iodide daily to control goiter in adolescent girls. (Marine & KImball, 1917; Marine, 1923)

References

Abraham (2004) The concept of orthoiodosupplementation and its clinical implications. The Original Internist, 11(2):29-38

Jorge D. Flechas, M.D., M.P.H., Medical Director of Flechas Family Practice in Hendersonville, NC. specializes in Iodine Therapy for Hypothyroidism and Fibrocystic Breast Disease. Dr. Flecha’s youtube video

Marine D, Kimball BS. (1917) The prevention of simple goiter in man. J Lab Clin Med; 3:40-48.

Marine D. (1923) Prevention and treatment of simple goiter.  Atl Med J; 26:437-442.