Healing Strategies:
What to Subtract
Healing Strategies:
What to Add
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In the toxic 21th Century, the question must be raised, would we even have an iodine  
deficiency without bromide dominance from the food supply and environment?
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Supplement Strategy: Iodine                             

What if there was a nutrient which accomplished the following?

    1. Desensitized estrogen receptors in the breast.

    2. Reduced estrogen production in overactive ovaries.

    3. Reduced fibrocystic breast disease (FDB) which often  precedes breast cancer

    4. Caused more cell death than the chemo drug Fluorouracil .

    5. Prevented rats from getting cancer when they were fed the breast cancer             
    causing toxin DMBA.

Evidence-based research supports the possibility that breast cancer may be
an iodine deficiency disease.

As iodine consumption has gone down, breast cancer rates have gone up. But the
research goes far deeper, exploring the effects of iodine supplementation on breast
disease and breast cancer. This important breakthrough has been in the research
pipeline for years but only recently found momentum.  After sifting through 50 years of
iodine research and corresponding with researchers around the world, the editors report
that abnormal iodine metabolism, due either to bromide dominance in the environment
or a dietary deficiency of iodine, must be addressed as part of a preventive and or a
therapeutic strategy.  

Iodine Deficiency Growing Worse
  • Iodine consumption by Americans has dropped 50% since the 1970s as breast
    cancer rates have risen (1).  In the US Goiter Belt,  where iodine in the soil is
    lower, breast  cancer is higher (2).

  • By contrast, the incidence and severity of breast cancer are less in Japan than
    in Europe and the US, attributable to the diet (3).  Japanese women consume 25
    times more dietary iodine than North American women and have lower breast
    cancer rates (4).

  • Meanwhile, since the 1970s, in the US and several other countries, iodine-
    blocking bromides have been added to flour,  some sodas, and medications,
    exacerbating the iodine deficiency.

  • Flouridated drinking water also depletes iodine absorption. Thus, as women
    consume less iodine and excrete more due to toxic elements, our risk for breast
    cancer grows(5).

Iodine and Benign Breast Disease

  • Blocking iodine in rats' food supply led to progressive human-like fibrocystic
    disease (atypia, sclerosing, calcifications, dysplastic changes) as the rats aged
    (6). Supplementing patients with fibrocystic disease with iodine helped to resolve
    fibrosis and reduced breast size (7).
  • For women with painful breasts accompanying fibrocystic disease, iodine  
    improved symptoms in more than 50% of the women who took 6.0 mg. of iodine
    for 6 months (8), and brown sea alga improved pain and nodularity in 94% of the
    women (9).  From the editors' observations of the Iodine
    Investigation Project participants, depending on the kind of iodine agent used,
    painful breast symptoms have resolved in from 24 hours to two months.
  • Since benign breast disease increases the risk of breast cancer
    (10), and iodine improves fibrocystic disease, we at Breast Cancer Choices
    propose studies to see if iodine supplementation decreases the risk of getting
    breast cancer and the risk of recurrence.

 Iodine and Breast Cancer

  • For breast patients, iodine's therapeutic mechanisms of action may be at least
    three-pronged:  Hormonal (11),  Biochemical (12-18), Genetic (19).

    That is, iodine desensitizes the estrogen receptors, alters the chemical pathways
    as well effects on the genes, resulting in less cell growth, and causing anti-tumor
    effect by causing apoptosis (programmed cell death) of malignant cells.

  • Iodine-rich seaweed exhibits an anti-cancer effect in rats and in the lab on human
    breast cancer cells.

    Adding seaweed to rats' food delays the onset and number of rat mammary
    tumors (20,21). And in the lab, mekabu seaweed plant induced cell death in three
    kinds of human breast cancer cells. Mekabu had a stronger effect on the cells
    than the chemo drug, 5-fluorouracil (22).

  • Adding  iodine to chemically-induced (DMBA) rat breast tumors stops the
    growth of the tumors.  Adding iodine plus medroxyprogesterone gave the
    highestlevel of response: the growth-suppressed tumors showed 100% times
    the iodine content than the full blown (nonsuppressed) tumors. The researchers
    suggest that the uptake of iodine was enhanced by medroxyprogesterone. (23).  
    As David Brownstein, MD, phrased it, "You cannot give breast cancer to rats that
    have sufficient iodine."

  • In small, preliminary patient studies, using the screening iodine-loading test,
    breast cancer patients excreted less urinary iodine than healthy people, implying
    iodine-deficiency (24,25)

Accumulating data has inspired several prominent researchers to call for the
immediate study of iodine as an adjuvant therapy for breast cancer (comparable
to the current use of Tamoxifen or Arimidex).

The editors at Breast Cancer Choices recommend patients read as much as they
can at  our Iodine Therapy in Medical Practice page. Secondly,  we recommend taking the
Iodine Loading Test  which will provide a guideline to your current iodine sufficiency
status. Then join the Iodine Investigation Project and participate in our confidential
database so we can follow your progress. Next, consider finding an iodine-literate
doctor (ILD) or one experienced in or willing to consider this non-toxic therapy

  • Iodine Protocol. Depending upon the results of your screening iodine-loading
    test,  most doctors we are familiar with currently recommend 50 mg or more of
    iodine daily in the form of Iodoral tablets (a combined iodine-iodide formula), but
    others recommend an iodine-only formulation or Lugol's iodine solution.


  • Iodine Companion Nutrients. Many Iodine Literate Doctors suggest selenium
    (26),  vitamin C (27), and magnesium(28) enhance the therapeutic value of
    iodine. Niacin was also recommended at the February 07 Iodine Conference.
    Thyroid function should be closely monitored and may require an adjustment of
    thyroid medications.

  • For those experiencing uncommon detox side effects such as constipation,
    acne or rash,the Amazon Discussion Group has used 1/2 teaspoon Celtic salt
    dissolved in a large glass of water, taken twice a day. Drinking additional water
    and taking extra vitamin C may help even more.  For the rare few experiencing
    stomach upset on high iodine dosages, your doctor can prescribe iodine
    suppositories made up at an iodine-literate pharmacy such as Belmar Pharmacy.


What to Expect: The Breast Cancer Choices Iodine Investigation Project is currently
following patients taking iodine to prevent recurrence. Most patients report no side
effects.  Some report a range of non-breast improvements such as change in thyroid
status, need for less thyroid medication, weight loss, ovarian cysts resolving, fibroids
shrinking, improved energy, mood and mental clarity.

But be aware  some iodine takers report what we believe to be iodine detoxing bromide
into the bloodstream causing symptoms of bromism.

According to a Department of Defense commissioned report, , bromism symptoms can
manifest as lethargy, depression, "dark" thoughts, "brain fog," constipation, leg and hip
pain, acne, rashes and other symptoms. These side effects are usually reversible in 24-
48 hours by discontinuing the iodine and allowing a short period of washout before
restarting at a lower dose. Again, as stated above, Celtic salt in water has relieved
detox symptoms quickly by speeding up bromide detox through the kidneys. See
Iodine Protocol.

Dosage:  CAUTION:  DO NOT TAKE IODINE IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO IODIZED SALT

Since bromide excretion seems to be higher in breast cancer patients than
undiagnosed persons (29), it is important that each patient develop a strategy
with her physician to clear the bromide. Ways of eliminating bromide detox
symptoms by taking 1/2 teaspoon of Celtic salt in water are currently being
used.

References:
1. NHANES.  National Health and Nutrition Survey showed iodine levels have declined 50% in the
US. CDC National Center for Health Statistics.  CDC. gov 2000.
2. Eskin BA., Iodine and Mammary Cancer, Tans NY, Academy of Sciences 1970.
3. Kurihara M., "Cancer Statistics in the World," Nagoya Univ. Press, Nagoya, pp. 80-81 1984.
4. Aceves C., et al., Is Iodine a Gatekeeper of the Integrity of the Mammary Gland?, Journal of
Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia, 2005.  
5. Brownstein D., Iodine.  Why You Need It.  Why You Can't Live Without It, 2nd Edition, Medical
Alternative Press 2006.
6. Krouse TB et al., Age-Related Changes Resembling Fibrocystic Disease in Iodine-Blocked Rat
Breasts, Arch Pathol Lab Med, 1979
7. Ghent WR et al., Iodine Replacement in Fibrocystic Disease of the Breast, Can J Surg 1993.
8.  Kessler J, The Effect of Supraphysiologic Levels of Iodine in Patients with Cyclic Mastalgia, The
Breast Journal 2004.
9. Bezpalov VG et al., Investigation of the Drug "Mamoclam" for the Treatment of Patients with
Fibroadenomatosis of the Breast, Vopr Onkol, 2005.
10. Hartmann LC et al., Benign Breast Disease and the Risk of Breast Cancer, N Engl J Med 2005.
11. Shah NM et al., Iodoprotein Formation by Rat Mammary Glands During Pregnancy and Early
Postpartum Period, Proc Soc Exp 1986
12.Venturi S., Is There a Role for Iodine in Breast Disease?, The Breast  2001.
13.Cann SA., et al., Hypothesis:  Iodine, Selenium, and the Development of Breast Cancer, Cancer
Causes control 2000.
14.Smyth PP., Role of Iodine in Antioxidant Defence in Thyroid and Breast Disease, Biofactors 2003.
15.Coochi M. et al., A New Hypothesis of Bio-Chemical Cooperation?, Prog Nutr 2000.
16.Thrall KD., Differences in the Distribution of Iodine and Iodide in the Sprague-Dawley Rats, J
Toxicol Environ Health 1992.
17. Eskin BA.,et al., Different Tissue Responses for Iodine and Iodide in Rat Thyroid and Mammary
Glands, Biol Trace Elem Res 1995.
18.Ghent WR. et al., IBID.
19. Eskin BA. et al., Microarray Characterization of Iodine Metabolic Pathways in Breast Cancer, p.
379 2006.
20. Teas J. et al., Dietary Seaweed (Laminaria) and Mammary Carcinogens in Rats, Cancer Res
1984.
21. Funahashi H. et al., Wakame Seaweed Suppresses the Proliferation of 7,12-Dimethybenz(a)-
Anthracene-Induced Mammary Tumors in Rats, Jpn J Cancer Res 1999.
22. Funahashi H. et al., Seaweed Preventing Breast Cancer?, Jpn J Cancer Res 2001.
23. Funahashi H. et al., Suppressive Effect of Iodine on DMBA-Induced Breast Tumor Growth in the
Rat, J Surg Oncol 1996.
24. Eskin BA. et al., Identification of Breast Cancer by Differences in Urinary Iodine, Abstract Number
2150, Presentation AACR Conference 2005.
25. Brownstein D., IBID
26. Cann SA. et al.,  IBID.
27. Abraham GE., et al., Evidence that the Administration of Vitamin C Improves a Defective
Cellular Transport Mechanism for Iodine:  A Case Report, The Original Internist 2005.
28. Abraham GE., The Safe and Effective Implementation of Orthoiodosupplementation in Medical
Practice, The Orginal Internist 2004.
29. Brownstein D., IBID.

The statements above have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.  The
supplements discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  Do not
take iodine without the supervision of an Iodine-Literate Doctor who is qualified to interpret lab
work in the context of supplementation. This website is intended as information only. The editors of
this site are not medically-trained. Please consult your licensed health care practitioner before
implementing any health strategy. The information provided on this site is designed to support, not
replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her existing physician. This
site accepts no advertising. The contents of this site are copyrighted 2006 by Breast Cancer Choices,
Inc. Contact us for reprint permission. Web page updated January 14,  2008
William Shevin, MD, uses
a specific protocol to clear
bromide detox symptoms
if they occur while taking
iodine.

Dr Shevin  presented his
Salt Loading Protocol at
the February '07 Iodine
conference:

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    in 1/2 cup warm
    water  followed
    immediately with
    12-16 oz water.
  • Repeat in 30-45
    minutes X 2 until
    copious urination
    begins.
  • Observe subjective
    response (usually
    within several
    hours).

Be sure to ask your doctor
before implementing this
or any medical strategy.
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