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ABRAHAM
Orthoiodosupplementation: Iodine Sufficiency Of The Whole Human Body
Abraham, G.E., Flechas, J.D., Hakala, J.C.
The Original Internist, 9:30-41, 2002.
The assumption that the only role of I as an essential element is in its essentiality for the synthesis of T3 and T4, became a dogma.
With the advent of sensitive assays, Thyroid Stimulating Hormones (TSH) was promoted to queen of tests for thyroid functions and I
was forgotten altogether as irrelevant to the point where most endocrinologists and other medical practitioners do not request a single
test for urine I concentration, during their whole medical career.”
So far, the optimal daily requirement for I has been estimated at 6 mg of iodide for the thyroid gland and 5 mg of iodine for the
mammary glands. The adrenal glands may also require adequate levels of I for normal function.”
Amazingly, 0.1 ml (2 drops) of Lugol contains 5 mg iodine and 7.5 mg iodide as the potassium salt, the near perfect total amount of I
and ratio of iodine over iodide, for sufficiency of the thyroid and mammary glands.
The concept of orthoiodosupplementation and its clinical implications.
Abraham GE
The Original Internist, 11(2):29-38, 2004
From a review of the published data, it soon became evident that medical textbooks contain several vital pieces of misinformation
about the essential element iodine, which may have caused more human misery and death than both world wars combined. The
purpose of this manuscript is to present some useful information about iodine and to discuss the concept of
orthoiodosupplementation in more detail than in previous publications.
Diatomic iodine (I2) can be absorbed through the lungs and through the skin. However, ingested food, drinks and iodine/iodide
supplementation, are the most common means of supplying iodine to the human body. Without interfering substances present in the
gastrointestinal tract, inorganic iodine, iodates, and iodides are quantitatively absorbed. The elimination of peripheral inorganic
iodide occurs almost exclusively through renal clearance. Organic and inorganic iodine are not cleared by the kidneys. When
inorganic iodide is ingested in amounts ranging from 0.001 mg up to 2,000 mg, Childs, et al, estimated an average renal clearance
of serum inorganic iodide of 50L/day over the whole range of intakes. Fisher, et al, and Koutras, et al, have measured serum
inorganic iodide levels at equilibrium in subjects ingesting increasing amounts of iodide from 75-1,250 mcg/day. Their results are
displayed in Table 2. When these data are plotted on an X-Y axis (Figure 1), a high degree of correlation (0.999) was obtained with a
slope of 0.023. The slope is an index of renal clearance: 1/0.023 = 43.5 L/day.
To compute the serum inorganic iodide levels at equilibrium in a subject ingesting a narrow range of iodine/iodide, divide the
average daily intake expressed as milligrams elemental iodine by 43.5 liters to obtain the serum concentration of inorganic iodide
expressed as mg/L of serum. Besides giving accurate information about the peripheral concentrations of iodide available for uptake
by the cells and organs of the human body, measurement of serum inorganic iodide levels is very useful for assessing bioavailability
of the iodine/iodide ingested. Alexander, et al, measured the serum inorganic iodide levels in normal subjects consuming an
average of 70 mcg iodide per day, but no iodized salt. He observed a mean value of 1.8 mcg/L. This measured value is very close to
the value computed by dividing 70 mcg/day by 43.5 liters/day = 1.6 mcg/L. This is evidence that the iodine present in the food and
drink of these subjects is highly bioavailable.
Pittman, et al, measured serum inorganic iodide levels in two groups of subjects: one group after iodization of salt, with an estimated
daily intake of 750 mcg iodide, and the other group after iodization of bread, with a similar average daily intake of iodates. The
expected mean serum level at equilibrium would be 17.2 mcg/L (750 mcg/43.5 L). The mean values observed by Pittman, et al,
were 1.7 mcg/L for subjects after iodization of salt, and 18.7 mcg/L for subjects after iodization of bread. These data suggest that
iodate in bread is very bioavailable, whereas only 10% of iodide in iodized salt were absorbed. On a molar basis, there is 30,000
times more chloride than iodide in iodized salt. Chloride competes with iodide for absorption in the intestinal tract. To this author's
knowledge, the low bioavailability of iodide in iodized salt has never been reported.
Iodine: The Universal Nutrient
Abraham, GE
Based on a review of the literature, and recent clinical research studies, the concept of orthoiodosupplementation can be
summarized as follows:
1. The nutrient iodine is essential for every cell of the human body requiring peripheral concentrations of inorganic iodide ranging
from 10-6M to 10-5M.
2. In non-obese subjects without a defecting cellular transport system for iodine, these concentrations can be achieved with daily
intake of 12.5 mg to 50 mg elemental iodine. The adult body retains approximately 1.5 gm iodine at sufficiency. At such time, the
ingested iodine is quantitatively excreted in the urine as iodide.
3. The thyroid gland is the most efficient organ of the human body, capable of concentrating iodide by 2 orders of magnitude to
reach 10-6M iodide required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones when peripheral levels of inorganic iodide are in the 10-8M range.
4. Goiter and cretinism are evidence of extremely severe iodine deficiency, because the smallest intake of iodine that would prevent
these conditions, that is 0.05 mg per day, is 1000 times less than the optimal intake of 50 mg elemental iodine.
5. The thyroid gland has a protective mechanism, limiting the uptake of peripheral iodide to a maximum of 0.6 mg per day when 50
mg or more elemental iodine are ingested. This amount therefore would serve as a preventive measure against radioactive fallout.
6. An intake of 50 mg elemental iodine per day would achieve peripheral concentration of iodide at 10-5M, which is the
concentration of iodide markedly enhancing the singlet triplet radiationless transition. Singlet oxygen causes oxidative damage to
DNA and macromolecules, predisposing to the carcinogenic effects of these reactive oxygen species.5 This effect would decrease
DNA damage, with an anticarcinogenic effect.
7. Preliminary data so far suggest that orthoiodosupplementation results in detoxification of the body from the toxic metals aluminum,
cadmium, lead and mercury.
8. Orthoiodosupplementation increases urinary excretion of fluoride and bromide, decreasing the iodine-inhibiting effects of these
halides.
9. Most patients on a daily intake ranging from 12.5 mg to 50 mg elemental iodine reported higher energy levels and greater mental
clarity with 50 mg (4 tablets Iodoral), daily. The amount of iodine used in patients with Fibrocystic Disease of the Breast by Ghent et
al is 0.1 mg/Kg BW per day, 10 times below the optimal daily intake of 50 mg. In our experience, patients with this clinical condition
responded faster and more completely when ingesting 50 mg iodine/iodide per day.
10. For best results, orthoiodosupplementation should be part of a complete nutritional program, emphasizing magnesium instead of
calcium.
11. A beneficial effect of orthoiodosupplementation was observed in the clinical conditions listed in Table I.
12. The iodine/iodide loading test and serum inorganic iodide levels are reliable means of assessing whole body sufficiency for
elemental iodine for quantifying the bioavailability of the forms of iodine ingested and for assessing cellular uptake and utilization of
iodine by target cells.
13. Orthoiodosupplementation may be the safest, simplest, most effective and least expensive way to solve the healthcare crisis
crippling our nation.
The Safe and Effective Implementation of Orthoiodosupplementation In Medical Practice
Abraham, GE
The Original Internist, 11:17-36, 2004
A cursory review of the literature suggests that the use of Lugol solution in Graves' disease, the preferred approach by thyroidologists
of that time, resulted in a higher success rate with fewer complications than the use of iodine and iodide alone. The daily amount of
Lugol solution used in Graves' disease ranged from one drop (6.25 mg) to 30 drops (180 mg). A complete nutritional program in our
experience improved further the response to orthoiodosupplementation in Graves' disease and other thyroid disorders.
A critical evaluation of some review articles on iodine-induced hypothyroidism and iodine-induced hyperthyroidism reveals that in
most cases, organic forms of iodine are involved. However, the titles of those articles suggest that the review is about inorganic
iodine/iodide.
“In several communities worldwide, an increased incidence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis was reported following implementation
of iodization of sodium chloride…. It is of interest to note that prior to iodization of salt, autoimmune thyroiditis was almost non-
existent in the US, although Lugol solution and potassium iodide were used extensively in medical practice in amounts two orders of
magnitude greater than the average daily amount ingested from iodized salt. This suggests that inadequate iodine intake aggravated
by goitrogens, not excess iodide, was the cause of this condition. To be discussed later, autoimmune thyroiditis cannot be induced
by inorganic iodide in laboratory animals unless combined with goitrogens, therefore inducing iodine deficiency.”
The concept of orthoiodosupplementation is based on the self-evident fact that the whole body, not just the thyroid gland, needs
iodine. The whole body needs this essential trace element, which plays different roles in different organs and tissues. In order to
assess whole body sufficiency for iodine/iodide, a simple loading test was developed, based on the concept that the more deficient a
patient is in this nutrient, the greater the percentage of ingested iodine/iodide that will be retained, the smaller the percentage
excreted in the urine.
Orthoiodosupplementation increased urinary excretion of lead, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum, and mercury. Urinary bromide and
fluoride levels increased markedly and proportionally to the amount of iodine/iodide ingested.
Whole body sufficiency for iodine correlated well with overall wellbeing, and some subjects could tell when they achieved
sufficiency even before knowing the results of the test. Iodine sufficiency was associated with a sense of overall wellbeing, lifting of a
brain fog, feeling warmer in cold environments, increased energy, needing less sleep, achieving more in less time, experiencing
regular bowel movements and improved skin complexion. In some subjects with overweight or obesity, orthoiodosupplementation
resulted in weight loss, decreased percent body fat and increased muscle mass.
Following orthoiodosupplementation, increased urinary excretion of the goitrogens fluoride and bromide and the toxic metals
mercury, lead, cadium and aluminum was observed; marked improvement of fibrocystic disease of the breast occurred following 3
months of iodine supplementation at 50 mg/day. In 3 patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome with olygomeuorrhea,
orthoiodosupplementation resulted in regularization of the menstrual cycle.
In patients on thyroid hormones, orthoiodosupplementation resulted in a decreased requirement to much lower levels of thyroxine
and in some cases, resulted in the complete discontinuation of this hormone. This decreased requirement for thyroid hormones
following orthoiodosupplementation was observed in a female patient with total thyroidectomy, suggesting that iodine not only
improves thyroid function but also has an effect at the target organ level. In diabetic patients on insulin, orthoiodosupplementation
resulted in better control of this condition, and in some cases alleviated this condition without the need for insulin. In hypertensive
patients, whole body iodine sufficiency resulted in normalization of blood pressure without medications. Similar observations were
reported by other physicians using this program. Best results were achieved when orthoiodosupplementation was combined with a
complete nutritional program emphasizing magnesium instead of calcium.
The historical background of the iodine project.
Abraham GE
The Original Internist, 12(2):57-66, 2005
The goal of this manuscript is to have, under the same cover, an update on the Iodine Project which started five years ago; an
exposé of the Wolff-Chaikoff forgery; and contributions from two clinicians with a combined experience with 4,000 patients using
Lugol tablets within the range recommended by pre-World War II physicians. This range of daily intake of iodine is called
orthoiodosupplementation because it is the amount of iodine required for whole body sufficiency based on an iodine/iodide loading
test recently developed by the author.
"During the first half of the 20th century, almost every U.S. physician used Lugol solution for iodine supplementation in his/her
practice for both hypo- and hyperthyroidism, and for many other medical conditions. In the old pharmacopeias, Lugol solution was
called Liquor Iodi Compositus. The minimum dose called minim, was one drop containing 6.25 mg of elemental iodine, with 40%
iodine and 60% iodide as the potassium salt. The recommended daily intake for iodine supplementation was 2 to 6 minims (drops)
containing 12.5 to 37.5 mg elemental iodine.
During the second half of the 20th century, iodophobic misinformation disseminated progressively and deceitfully among the
medical profession resulted in a decreased use of Lugol, with iodized salt becoming the standard for iodine supplementation.
The bioavailable iodide from iodized salt is only 10% and the daily amount of iodide absorbed from iodized salt is 200 to 500 times
less than the amount of iodine/iodide previously recommended by U.S. physicians.
After World War II, U.S. physicians were educated early in their medical career to believe that inorganic non-radioactive forms of
iodine were toxic.
Adverse reactions to radiographic contrast media and other iodine-containing drugs were blamed on iodine. If a patient told his/her
physician that he/she could not tolerate seafood, the physician told him/her that he/she was allergic to iodine.
Amiodarone is a toxic form of sustained release iodine. The author has previously discussed the interesting observation that this
antiarrhythmic drug becomes effective when the body has accumulated approximately 1.5 gm of iodine. This is exactly the amount
of iodine retained by the human body when iodine sufficiency is achieved following orthoiodosupplementation. Whole body
sufficiency for inorganic non-radioactive iodine/iodide results in optimal cardiac functions. Inorganic non-radioactive iodine was
never tested in clinical conditions for which physicians prescribe amiodarone. However, inorganic iodide is blamed for the severe
side effects of this drug.
The Wolff-Chaikoff Effect: Crying Wolf?
Abraham GE
The Original Internist, 12(3):112-118,2005
The W-C effect is supposedly the inhibitory effect of peripheral inorganic iodide (PII) levels equal to or greater than 0.2 mg/L (10-6M)
on the organification of iodide by the thyroid gland of rats, resulting supposedly in hypothyroidism and goiter. These rats never
became hypothyroid and thyroid hormones were not measured in their plasma. Nevertheless, the W-C effect, which did not even
occur in the rats, was extrapolated to humans. The correct interpretation of the results obtained in rats from the W-C experiments is:
Iodide sufficiency of the thyroid gland was achieved when serum inorganic iodide levels reached 10-6M, as we previously discussed.
These law-abiding rats refused to become hypothyroid and instead followed their normal physiological response to the iodide load.
They were unjustly accused of escaping from the W-C effect. Labeling these innocent rats as fugitives from the W-C effect was a great
injustice against these rodents.
More Articles by Abraham on Orthoiodosupplementation