Is Iodine A Secret Weapon Against Cancer?

The Overlooked Nutrient and Surprising Benefits

Iodine is one of those nutrients many people don’t think about, but it is essential to our health. Without enough iodine, our bodies can’t function properly, yet millions of people worldwide are not getting enough. This is not just a problem in certain regions. It’s a global issue that affects people everywhere, including developed nations like the United States and the United Kingdom.

Alarming Global Deficiency Rates

One of the most surprising facts about iodine is that over one-third of the global population is deficient in this nutrient to some degree. You might be wondering why that matters. The truth is, iodine isn’t just crucial for your thyroid…  it is the small gland in your neck that controls your metabolism. It’s also essential for brain development, immune system health, and even cancer prevention.

Impact on Brain Development and IQ

For many years, scientists have known that severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy can cause a condition called cretinism, which leads to severe mental and physical disabilities in babies. But what many people don’t realize is that even mild iodine deficiency, especially in young children, can lower IQ and make learning more difficult. Studies have shown that children born to mothers who are iodine deficient may grow up to have lower intelligence than they would have if their mothers had enough iodine during pregnancy.

Crucial Role in Preventing Cancer

Besides its role in brain health, iodine plays a big part in protecting us from certain cancers. Research has shown that women with low iodine levels are more likely to develop breast cancer.

In fact, women with goiters, which are often caused by iodine deficiency, have three times the rate of breast cancer compared to women with healthy iodine levels. This is a huge concern because breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women.

Global Differences in Intake

Looking at other countries, the differences in iodine intake and cancer rates are shocking. In Japan, people consume much higher levels of iodine because they eat a lot of seaweed and seafood. Their breast cancer rates are much lower than in the United States and Europe.

In some areas of Japan, people consume up to 12 milligrams of iodine daily, compared to the 200 micrograms or less that most Americans get. That’s a difference of up to 60 times more iodine.

Protecting Other Glandular Tissues

Iodine doesn’t only help prevent breast cancer. It’s also important for other glandular tissues like the prostate, ovaries, and pancreas. Some researchers believe that iodine deficiency may play a role in prostate cancer, which is the most common cancer in men.

Iodine helps these tissues stay healthy and may help prevent abnormal cell growth, which is how cancer starts. Scientists have found that iodine even helps the body destroy abnormal cells through a process called apoptosis, or programmed cell death.

Modern Diet and Farming Issues

One reason iodine deficiency has become so widespread is because of changes in food production. In the past, flour in the United States was fortified with iodine, but now, it is often treated with bromine instead.

Bromine is in the same chemical family as iodine, so it competes with iodine in the body. But unlike iodine, bromine is suspected to be a carcinogen, which means it could cause cancer. So not only are people getting less iodine, but they are also being exposed to harmful substances that make the problem worse.

Another problem is that modern farming practices have depleted the iodine in our soils. Farmers used to spread seaweed on their fields to add iodine and other nutrients to the soil, but this practice has mostly disappeared. Now, artificial fertilizers are used, and they don’t contain iodine. As a result, crops grown in these soils have less iodine, and so do the people who eat them.

Diet and Supplementation Solutions

So what can be done? The simplest way to get iodine is through diet. Foods that naturally contain iodine include seaweed, shellfish, and fish like cod and haddock. However, in many places, people don’t eat these foods often.

Seaweed, for example, is a staple in Japan and Korea but not in the U.S. or U.K. One solution might be to encourage people to eat more seaweed and seafood. Another option is iodine supplements, such as Lugol’s iodine, but it’s essential to be careful with supplements because too much iodine can also be harmful.

The Role of Public Health Policies

Governments could also help by ensuring that more foods are accurately labeled as to iodine content and that public health guidelines emphasize the importance of iodine. Right now, iodine deficiency isn’t discussed much, but it should be, considering its importance for health.

Experts say that iodine and vitamin D are two of the most common deficiencies and that both are linked to breast and prostate cancers. Taking steps to ensure people get enough of these nutrients could prevent many cancer cases and improve brain health for future generations.

As one of the doctors in the discussion put it, we could be lowering the global IQ by 5 to 10 points just because of iodine deficiency. But with the right measures, we can prevent this from happening.

A Call for Awareness and Action

This issue affects everyone, and it’s time we start paying attention to it. Whether by eating more seaweed or encouraging better public health policies, each one of us has a role to play in raising awareness about iodine deficiency.

References:

1. Global Iodine Deficiency Prevalence

• World Health Organization (WHO). (2007). Assessment of Iodine Deficiency Disorders and Monitoring their Elimination: A Guide for Programme Managers (3rd ed.).
  • Details the global burden of iodine deficiency and methods for assessing its prevalence.
  • Link (PDF)
• Andersson M, Karumbunathan V, Zimmermann MB. (2012). “Global iodine status in 2011 and trends over the past decade.” The Journal of Nutrition, 142(4), 744–750.
  • Discusses changes in iodine status worldwide, noting that a significant portion of the global population remains iodine-deficient.
  • Abstract

2. Iodine and Brain Development (IQ)

• Bougma K, Aboud FE, Harding KB, Marquis GS. (2013). “Iodine and mental development of children 5 years old and under: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Nutrients, 5(4), 1384–1416.
  • Reviews studies linking iodine deficiency with impaired cognitive function in children.
  • Full Text
• Zimmermann MB. (2012). “Iodine deficiency in industrialised countries.” Clinical Endocrinology (Oxf), 75(3), 287–288.
  • Summarizes the consequences of mild to moderate iodine deficiency on cognitive outcomes.

3. Iodine and Cancer (Breast, Prostate, and Other Glandular Tissues)

• Eskin BA, Shuman R, Krouse T, Merion JA. (1975). “Rat mammary gland atypia produced by iodine blockade with perchlorate.” Cancer Research, 35(9), 2332–2339.
  • Early research indicating a link between iodine levels and abnormal breast tissue changes.
• Eskin BA, et al. (1995). “Identification of breast cancer as a disease of iodine deficiency.” Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 14(5), 464–472.
  • Explores the hypothesis that chronic iodine deficiency may be associated with breast cancer development.
• Aceves C, Anguiano B, Delgado G. (2013). “Is Iodine a Gatekeeper of the Integrity of the Mammary Gland?” Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia, 18(2), 1–11.
  • Examines the protective role of iodine in breast tissue and its potential anti-cancer properties.
  • Abstract
• Venturi S, Venturi M. (2009). “Iodine in evolution of salivary glands and in oral health.” Nutrition and Health, 20(2), 119–134.
  • Reviews the broader protective functions of iodine in various tissues and possible anticancer benefits.

4. Japan’s High Iodine Intake vs. Western Intake

• Zava TT, Zava DT. (2011). “Assessment of Japanese iodine intake based on seaweed consumption in Japan: A literature-based analysis.” Thyroid Research, 4, 14.
  • Assesses typical daily iodine intake in Japan (often several milligrams per day) through seaweed, contrasting sharply with Western diets.
  • Full Text
• Mouritsen OG, Dawczynski C, Duelund L, et al. (2013). “On the human consumption of the red seaweed dulse (Palmaria palmata).” Journal of Applied Phycology, 25, 1777–1791.
  • Discusses the cultural dietary habits involving seaweed and the associated higher iodine intake.

5. Bromine in Flour and the Displacement of Iodine

• Patrick L. (2008). “Iodine: deficiency and therapeutic considerations.” Alternative Medicine Review, 13(2), 116–127.
  • Explains how bromine (used in flour treatment) can compete with iodine in the body.
  • Full Text
• ToxFAQs for Bromine. Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR).
  • Outlines bromine’s chemical nature and potential health concerns, including interference with iodine uptake.
  • Link

6. Declining Soil Iodine and Farming Practices

• Fuge R, Johnson CC. (2015). “Iodine and human health, the role of environmental geochemistry and diet, a review.” Applied Geochemistry, 63, 282–302.
  • Discusses how soil depletion and modern agricultural methods contribute to lower iodine availability in crops.
• World Health Organization. (1999). “Nutrition for Health and Development: Iodine Deficiency Disorders.”
  • Addresses the impact of reduced soil iodine on the food supply and strategies for fortification.
  • Link

7. Iodine Supplementation and Public Health

• WHO & UNICEF. (2007). “Reaching optimal iodine nutrition in pregnant and lactating women and young children.” Joint Statement by WHO & UNICEF.
  • Emphasizes the importance of iodine supplementation and salt iodization for vulnerable groups.
  • Link (PDF)
• Zimmermann MB, Delange F. (2004). “Iodine supplementation of pregnant women in Europe: a review and recommendations.” European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 58(7), 979–984.
  • Provides guidelines and evidence supporting iodine supplementation, especially during pregnancy.

8. Broader Implications: Lower IQ and Cancer Prevention

• DeLong GR, Leslie PW, Wang SH, et al. (1997). “Effect on infant mortality of iodination of irrigation water in a severely iodine-deficient area of China.” Lancet, 350(9080), 771–773.
  • Illustrates the large-scale benefits of correcting iodine deficiency, including improved infant and child outcomes.
• Zimmermann MB, Boelaert K. (2015). “Iodine deficiency and thyroid disorders.” The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 3(4), 286–295.
  • Summarizes the wide-ranging health effects of iodine deficiency, from thyroid disorders to broader systemic issues.
  • Abstract

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