Page 50 - Summer2009

other tissues) might not function as well after a sudden 90-fold increase tion, particularly hypothyroidism. In a study of
in the intake of this mineral. . . relatively small increases in dietary io- 33 Japanese patients with hypothyroidism, the
dine intake have been reported to cause hypothyroidism or other thyroid median serum TSH level decreased from 21.9
abnormalities in some people.” P8 / WR P8 / LQGLFDWLQJ DQ LPSURYHPHQW
As for the observation that iodine supplementation “promotes the uri- in the hypothyroidism), and one-third became
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the general population.” IURP ¿YH FRQWLQHQWV WK\URLG JODQGV ZHUH WZLFH
Abraham and colleagues promote the use of the iodine-load test, in as large in children with high dietary iodine
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the urine is collected for the next twenty-four hours. The patient is consid- children with more normal iodine intake. While
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LV H[FUHWHG LQ WKH XULQH RQ WKH SUHPLVH WKDW D GH¿FLHQW SHUVRQ ZLOO UHWDLQ gests the possibility of iodine-induced goiter. In
iodine in the tissues, rather than excrete it in the urine. According to the addition, there is epidemiological evidence that
literature of a laboratory that offers it, 92-98 percent of patients who have SRSXODWLRQV ZLWK µVXI¿FLHQW¶ RU µKLJK QRUPDO¶
WDNHQ WKH LRGLQH ORDG WHVW ZHUH IRXQG WR EH GH¿FLHQW LQ LRGLQH dietary iodine intake have a higher prevalence of
According to Gaby, “the validity of the test depends on the assumption autoimmune thyroiditis, compared with popula-
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may be that people are failing to excrete 90 percent of the iodine in the children in a mountainous area of Greece with a
urine not because their tissues are soaking it up, but because a lot of the high prevalence of goiter, public-health measures
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PJ GRVH RI LRGLQH ZKLFK LV DW OHDVW WLPHV WKH W\SLFDO GDLO\ LQWDNH FDQ lowed by a three-fold increase in the prevalence
be almost completely absorbed by the average person. While this issue of autoimmune thyroiditis. In addition, modest
has not apparently been studied in humans, cows fed supraphysiological increases in dietary iodine have been suspected
GRVHV RI LRGLQH WR PJ SHU GD\ H[FUHWHG DSSUR[LPDWHO\ SHUFHQW to cause hyperthyroidism in some people, an
of the administered dose in the feces.” effect that is known to occur with larger doses
Gaby expressed concerns about iodine toxicity: “Fairly modest of iodine.
increases in iodine intake have been reported to cause thyroid dysfunc- “Other well-known side effects of excessive

HOW MUCH IODINE?
FDA: The Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) is set at 150 mcg per day for men and women with a Tolerable Upper Intake
Level (UL) of 1,100 mcg per day. This amount would be greatly exceeded by those using even modest amounts of iodized
salt.
TRADITIONAL DIETS: Iodine levels in traditional diets varied widely. Weston Price reports 131-175 mcg for the Inuit (about
the level of the DRI) and 25-34 mcg for Canadian Indians (considered very low, although they did not exhibit thyroid
problems). Based on the reported values in seaweed, some have claimed levels of 12 mg (12,000 mcg) in Japanese diets,
although a published analysis of iodine intake in Japan found a range of 45-1921 mcg per day (J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo).
1988 Oct;32(5):487-95). Without seaweed, it would be very difficult to exceed 1,000 mcg per day, based on values found
in typical traditional foods (see chart, page 47).

CHERASKIN RECOMMENDATIONS: In a study of reported daily iodine intake versus reported total number of clinical
symptoms and signs (as judged from the Cornell Medical Index Health Questionnaire), an intake of approximately 1,000
mcg per day correlated with the lowest number of reported symptoms, that is, the highest level of health.

ABRAHAM/BROWNSTEIN RECOMMENDATIONS: Abraham and Brownstein argue that the iodine requirement is 1,500
mcg per day (1.5 mg), which is difficult to achieve without using a species of seaweed high in iodine, iodized salt or
supplementation. They believe that because of widespread bromide and fluoride toxicity, most people today actually
require between 5 and 50 mg per day, amounts only possible with supplementation, which should only be taken under
the supervision of a physician to monitor iodine status.
48 Wise Traditions SUMMER 2009