Iodine Deficiency
Dr. Weyrich's Naturopathic Functional Medicine Notebook
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Overview
Iodine deficiency is associated with a number of medical conditions, including [Brownstein2008]:- hypothyroid
- adrenal insufficiency
- auto-immune diseases
- prostate cancer
- breast cancer [Derry2003].
Etiology
All cells in the body contain iodine receptors, especially endocrine glands. These receptors are succeptible to being blocked by other halides (e.g. fluorine, chlorine, bromine) that are present in the environment, resulting in functional iodine deficiencies.Previously, people living in land-locked areas with iodine-deficient soil were succeptible to iodine deficiency, but with the widespread use of iodized salt, this is no longer a common problem in developed countries.
Differential Diagnosis
Treatment
Dr. Starr recommends treating iodine deficiency with Lugol's Strong Iodine Solution (iodine + iodide). A course of treatment starts by rubbing one drop into the skin per day, titrating up an additional drop every four or five days, up to 4 drop/day (25 mg) [Brownstein2008; Starr2005, pg 187].Pathophysiology
Dr. Derry has proposed a number of functions for iodine [Derry2003], some of which include:- Needed to make T4.
- Plays a role in apoptosis.
- Detoxifies chemicals, including foreign proteins (anti-allergy and anti-autoimmune) including venoms and toxins.
- Protects unsaturated fatty acids.
- Antimicrobial against Heliobacter pylori in the stomach.
- Regenerates scar tissue to normal tissue [Derry2008a; Derry2008b].
ICD-9 Codes
| ICD9-Code | Description | Comments |
|---|---|---|
References
Unless specifically noted above, references used in the construction of this web page include the following:[FDM] Lecture notes from Functional Medicine University.
[SCNM] Lecture notes from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.
[UT] Lecture notes from the University of Tennessee graduate programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry.
[Brownstein2008] Brownstein D. Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It, Third Edition. Medical Alternatives Press (2008). See also http://www.drbrownstein.com. [Cited by Starr2005].
[Derry2003] Derry DM. Breast Cancer and Iodine. Victoria, BC: Trafford Publishing (2003). [Cited by Starr2005].
[Derry2008a] Derry DM. Regeneration of Human Scar Tissue with Topical Iodine: A preliminary report, part 1 (Three Years). Thyroid Science 3(6):CR1-9 (2008). Available from http://www.thyroidscience.com/cases/contents.htm. [Cited by Starr2005].
[Derry2008b] Derry DM. Regeneration of Human Scar Tissue with Topical Iodine: A preliminary report, part 2 (Three Years). Thyroid Science 3(7):CR1-9 (2008). Available from http://www.thyroidscience.com/cases/contents.htm. [Cited by Starr2005].
[Starr2005] Mark Starr. Hypothyroidism Type 2: The Epidemic. Columbia, MO: Mark Starr Trust (2005).
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This web page is http://www.DrWeyrich.com/disorders/i2_deficiency.html - Phone Dr. Weyrich at (480) 423-6952