Post by Admin on Oct 21, 2024 0:28:52 GMT -8
I was reading in a forum recently where is was being claimed that iodine was essential to prevent and cure fibrocystic breast disease (FBD), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), uterine cysts, endometriosis and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). The poster continued with claiming that the iodine is also essential to cure the cancers that develop from these conditions.
There are several flaws with these claims that should be addressed.
First is the fact that these conditions are hormonally related.
FBD, PCOS, uterine "cysts" (fibroids) and endometriosis are linked to elevated estrogen levels.
BPH is linked to elevated levels of testosterone. More specifically a more radical form of testosterone known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Iodine has been shown to help with FBD, PCOS and uterine fibroids since it is antagonistic to estrogen. Does this make it essential to the treatment of these disorders? Not at all. Iodine is not the only substance that can antagonize or regulate estrogen. Phytoestrogens for example, found in all the plants humans consume, are also antagonistic to estrogen.
Phytoestrogens are weak estrogenic compounds found in plants. They average 200-400 times weaker than the body's own estrogens. Due to their similar structure to real estrogens the phytoestrogens latch on to estrogen receptors exerting a very weak estrogenic effect. More importantly is the fact that their receptor binding activity blocks the effects of stronger estrogens by preventing binding of these stronger estrogens. Therefore, phytoestrogens actually exhibit anti-estrogenic effects and accounts for the lower incidence of hormone associated cancers in countries, such as Japan, where they are consumed in high levels.
Levels of phytoestrogens vary in plants. Flax seed is extremely high, being almost 4 times higher than raw soybeans, which are also rich. Other high sources include the cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage.
Phytoestrogens can also be bought as supplements. For example, resveratrol sold as an anti-aging and anti-cancer supplement is actually a phytoestrogen.
Phytoestrogens are goitrogenic though, so they can suppress the thyroid. Taking small amounts of iodine with goitrogens will reverse their goitrogenic effect. I prefer seaweeds such as Atlantic kelp, dulse or bladderwrack since these are not only great phytoestrogen sources but they are also great sources of natural iodine.
Bioflavonoids found in high levels in berries also have anti-estrogenic effects like phytoestrogens.
B vitamins are used in the process of methylation that helps the liver to break down excess estrogen.
Bitter tasting foods or herbs can stimulate the vagus nerve increasing the liver's ability to break down excess estrogens.
Increasing dietary fiber intake can help with these conditions in several manners. First the fiber promotes bowel activity helping to eliminate excess estrogens being eliminated from the body through the intestines before they can be reabsorbed. Secondly, fiber feeds the intestinal flora that help produce B vitamins that aid in estrogen breakdown and the flora break down estrogen metabolites preventing their reabsorption and thus lowering the estrogen load.
Losing weight can also help as fat cells are also a source of estrogen.
Reducing intake of farm raised meats and dairy can help since the animals are often fattened up with estrogens and estrogen compounds are sometimes used to increase milk production.
With FBD it has been shown that eliminating caffeine can reduce FBD even without iodine. So clearly this condition is not caused by an iodine deficiency.
Iodine can help with these estrogen related conditions by antagonizing iodine. To get a significant effect though would likely take a high amount of iodine. And considering the risks associated with the ingestion of excess iodine I would not recommend the use of high levels of iodine for these conditions, especially when there are various safer methods to antagonize iodine, or simply help break down excess estrogens.
BPH on the other hand is not caused by excess estrogen. In fact, estrogen compounds are used to treat BPH by antagonizing DHT. Some people claim that iodine increases testosterone. If this were the case then the rise in testosterone could increase DHT and the anti-estrogenic effects of the iodine would aggravate the condition.
As for the claim that these conditions are precursors for cancer is also misleading. There is no proof that FBD, PCOS or uterine fibroids lead to cancer. Elevated estrogen can feed some existing cancers, but this does not mean the conditions are the cause of cancer. Those conditions are simply "fueled" by the elevated estrogen, just like estrogen associated cancers. This does not mean the conditions are cancer precursors. Same for BPH. DHT may fuel both cancers, but this does not mean BPH is a precursor for prostate cancer.
There are several flaws with these claims that should be addressed.
First is the fact that these conditions are hormonally related.
FBD, PCOS, uterine "cysts" (fibroids) and endometriosis are linked to elevated estrogen levels.
BPH is linked to elevated levels of testosterone. More specifically a more radical form of testosterone known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Iodine has been shown to help with FBD, PCOS and uterine fibroids since it is antagonistic to estrogen. Does this make it essential to the treatment of these disorders? Not at all. Iodine is not the only substance that can antagonize or regulate estrogen. Phytoestrogens for example, found in all the plants humans consume, are also antagonistic to estrogen.
Phytoestrogens are weak estrogenic compounds found in plants. They average 200-400 times weaker than the body's own estrogens. Due to their similar structure to real estrogens the phytoestrogens latch on to estrogen receptors exerting a very weak estrogenic effect. More importantly is the fact that their receptor binding activity blocks the effects of stronger estrogens by preventing binding of these stronger estrogens. Therefore, phytoestrogens actually exhibit anti-estrogenic effects and accounts for the lower incidence of hormone associated cancers in countries, such as Japan, where they are consumed in high levels.
Levels of phytoestrogens vary in plants. Flax seed is extremely high, being almost 4 times higher than raw soybeans, which are also rich. Other high sources include the cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage.
Phytoestrogens can also be bought as supplements. For example, resveratrol sold as an anti-aging and anti-cancer supplement is actually a phytoestrogen.
Phytoestrogens are goitrogenic though, so they can suppress the thyroid. Taking small amounts of iodine with goitrogens will reverse their goitrogenic effect. I prefer seaweeds such as Atlantic kelp, dulse or bladderwrack since these are not only great phytoestrogen sources but they are also great sources of natural iodine.
Bioflavonoids found in high levels in berries also have anti-estrogenic effects like phytoestrogens.
B vitamins are used in the process of methylation that helps the liver to break down excess estrogen.
Bitter tasting foods or herbs can stimulate the vagus nerve increasing the liver's ability to break down excess estrogens.
Increasing dietary fiber intake can help with these conditions in several manners. First the fiber promotes bowel activity helping to eliminate excess estrogens being eliminated from the body through the intestines before they can be reabsorbed. Secondly, fiber feeds the intestinal flora that help produce B vitamins that aid in estrogen breakdown and the flora break down estrogen metabolites preventing their reabsorption and thus lowering the estrogen load.
Losing weight can also help as fat cells are also a source of estrogen.
Reducing intake of farm raised meats and dairy can help since the animals are often fattened up with estrogens and estrogen compounds are sometimes used to increase milk production.
With FBD it has been shown that eliminating caffeine can reduce FBD even without iodine. So clearly this condition is not caused by an iodine deficiency.
Iodine can help with these estrogen related conditions by antagonizing iodine. To get a significant effect though would likely take a high amount of iodine. And considering the risks associated with the ingestion of excess iodine I would not recommend the use of high levels of iodine for these conditions, especially when there are various safer methods to antagonize iodine, or simply help break down excess estrogens.
BPH on the other hand is not caused by excess estrogen. In fact, estrogen compounds are used to treat BPH by antagonizing DHT. Some people claim that iodine increases testosterone. If this were the case then the rise in testosterone could increase DHT and the anti-estrogenic effects of the iodine would aggravate the condition.
As for the claim that these conditions are precursors for cancer is also misleading. There is no proof that FBD, PCOS or uterine fibroids lead to cancer. Elevated estrogen can feed some existing cancers, but this does not mean the conditions are the cause of cancer. Those conditions are simply "fueled" by the elevated estrogen, just like estrogen associated cancers. This does not mean the conditions are cancer precursors. Same for BPH. DHT may fuel both cancers, but this does not mean BPH is a precursor for prostate cancer.