Iodoral is Back!

By Allergy Research Group

Iodine is an essential element that is crucial for thyroid and adrenal health and proper function. It also helps to boost your immunity and create a healthy metabolism balance. Although its main function is to aid in the production of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland, other organs in the body have a need for iodine in order to function normally too.

Several studies have demonstrated the body’s need for iodine intake. The original study on adolescent girls was completed 80-years-ago and used 9 mg of iodine daily. The minimum amount of iodine determined in these studies is equivalent to 0.1 mg per 1 kg of body weight per day. For example for a 50 kg woman, the daily amount of iodine would be 5 mg.

During the early 1900’s, the iodine/iodide solution called Lugol solution was used extensively, effectively, and safely in medical practice—for both low activity and above normal activity of the thyroid gland. The recommended daily intake for iodine supplementation was 2 to 6 drops of Lugol solution, which provided 12.5 mg to 37.5 mg total iodide. That amount was mentioned as recently as 1995 in a book on Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Several investigators have shown convincing evidence for the need for adequate iodine intake. Japanese women living in Japan consumed a daily average of 13.8 mg total elemental iodine and some research suggests this is an important factor for their relative health. In the 1960s, one slice of bread in the USA contained the full Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 0.15 mg iodine. Over the last 2 decades, iodine was replaced by bromine in the bread making process. Bromine may block thyroid function and can also interfere with iodine in the body.

The RDA limits for vitamins and minerals were established after World War II. One of the last essential elements included in the RDA system was iodine, established in 1980 and confirmed in 1989. The RDA for iodine was based on the amount of iodine/iodide needed to prevent goiter and hypothyroidism. The optimal requirement of the whole human body for iodine has never been studied. Therefore, the optimal amount of this element for physical and mental well-being is unknown. Based on demographic studies, the mainland

Japanese people consumed an average of 13.8 mg daily and they are one of the healthiest people on planet earth. Lugol solution is a time-tested preparation with a proven track record for over 150 years. Two drops contain 12.5 mg iodine/iodide, an amount very close to the 13.8 mg average intake of the mainland Japanese people.

Iodoral^® is a tablet form of Lugol solution. A one 12.5 mg tablet of Iodoral^® supplies an amount of total elemental iodine comparable to the average daily intake of this essential element by the mainland Japanese people.

Administration of iodine/iodide in a liquid solution is not very accurate, may stain clothing, has an unpleasant taste, and can cause gastric irritation. Iodoral^® is a precisely quantified tablet form containing 5 mg iodine and 7.5 mg iodide as the potassium salt. To prevent gastric irritation, the iodine/iodide preparation is absorbed into a colloidal silica excipient and to eliminate the unpleasant taste of iodine, the tablets are coated with a thin film of pharmaceutical glaze. Iodoral^® can help promote healthy thyroid function, support your weight management efforts, balance your metabolism, increase energy and reduce fatigue, boost your immunity, and increase your overall health.

References:

1. Ghent, W., et al, Can. J. Surg., 36:453-460, 1993.
2. Eskin, B., et al, Biological Trace Element Research, 49:9-19, 1995.
3. Marine, D., Atl. Med. J., 26:437-442, 1923.
4. Abraham,G.E., The Original Internist, 11:17-36, 2004.
5. Gennaro A.R., Remington: 19th Edition, 1995, Mack Publishing Co, 1267.
6. Abraham, G.E., Flechas, J.D., Hakala, J.C., The Original Internist, 9:30-41, 2002.
7. Epstein, S.S., et al, Prevention Program Macmillan, NY, 1998, pg5.
8. Abraham, G.E., The Original Internist, 11: (2) 29-38, 2004.
9. Abraham, G.E. Townsend Letter, 245:100- 101, 2003.
10. Abraham, G.E., Flechas, J.D., Hakala, J.C., The Original Internist, 9:5-20, 2002.

 

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Could a Daily Dose of Sunshine Prevent Neurological Diseases?

By Jennifer Palmer, Naturopathic Doctor (ND) & NEEDS Education Director

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominately dopamine producing “dopaminergic” neurons in a specific area of the brain. It causes symptoms that progress slowly over years, including rigid limbs, gait and balance problems, and a type of tremor in the hands. Like most of the neurological diseases, it continually progresses and there is no solid cure.

A recent study has found a link between regular sun exposure and having a lower risk of developing PD as an older adult. Sun exposure increases the body’s vitamin D production and this may play a significant role in PD.

This study was conducted in France in order to examine the association of ultraviolet B (UV-B) light exposure from the sun, to the risk of developing PD later in life. The researchers found that in adults under 70-years-old, higher exposure to UV-B light is associated with a lower risk of developing PD. People under 50-years-old with consistently high UV-B exposure had the most significant reduction in their risk of developing PD as they grew older. In older age groups, the risk reduction was less significant, but still existed.

On the flip side, people who had the lowest exposure to UV-B light under 70-years-old had the greatest risk of developing PD. However, for people older than 70, low UV-B light exposure was a less significant risk factor for developing PD and for those over 80, there was very little correlation between sunshine and PD.

There’s a good reason why sunlight is related to neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and many others. The key reason is that sunshine enhances the body’s natural ability to create vitamin D. When skin is exposed to UV-B light from the sun, it converts a type of cholesterol

(7-dehydrocholesterol) present in the skin into a vitamin D precursor. Then, this precursor is transferred to the liver and kidneys and is ultimately converted to active vitamin D. The body can produce adequate amounts of vitamin D through this process as long as there is sufficient sun exposure, but as we age, the process becomes less effective for many people. This might explain why UV-B exposure is less protective against PD in older adults.

The good news is that we can take vitamin D3 in supplement form to make up for the body’s compromised production and help prevent neurological disorders. Vitamin D plays an important role in maintaining neurological function and protecting the nervous system. When you have a deficiency, it increases a person’s risk of developing neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.

The Vitamin D Council website (www.vitamindcouncil.org) lists more than 60 studies that explore the relationship between vitamin D levels and neurodegeneration. Vitamin D works on specific cells in the immune system to reduce inflammation—a condition that can be damaging to nerves and negatively influences brain function. It may also help reduce autoimmune reactions by balancing the immune system. Vitamin D helps deliver calcium into bones and reduces the risk of excess calcium being deposited into brain tissue. The nervous system also has vitamin D receptors, so the nutrient can influence neurotransmitter synthesis and nerve growth.

If you live in a location where it is difficult to get adequate sun exposure, such as northern latitudes, or if you are concerned about developing skin cancer, you can take vitamin D3 as a supplement. Your physician can test your vitamin D levels and if you find they are very low, you can take up to 10,000 IU vitamin D daily until your levels are restored.

For general supplementation, take 1,000-2,000 IU daily. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient, which is best absorbed when taken with food that has a little fat in it. And don’t forget that Vitamin D has cofactors that enhance absorption, including magnesium, zinc, and boron. Vitamin K2 supports vitamin D by shuttling calcium into the bones instead of blood vessels. This helps prevent calcium deposits in vessels and reduces the risk of developing atherosclerosis. Vitamin A and vitamin D share receptors, so it is important to get adequate amounts of both to prevent deficiency. Balance is always key when it comes to health, so be sure to take all the cofactors when taking high doses of vitamin D!

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

 

References:

Kravietz, A. et al. Association of UV radiation with Parkinson disease incidence: A nationwide French ecologic study. Environmental Research, 2017.

Przybelski RJ1, Binkley NC. Arch Biochem Biophys. (2007) Apr 15; 460 (2):202-5. Is vitamin D important for preserving cognition? A positive correlation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration with cognitive function.