Metabolic Solutions Report
Terry Chamberlin, B.Sc., C.N.C., Bioanalyst Nova Scotia, Canada [email protected] 902-584-3810
Iodine Cancer and Fibrocystic Disease
Sections from "The ultimate iodine article":
Several studies have demonstrated a relationship between low iodine intake and fibrocystic disease of the
breast (FDB), both in women and laboratory animals. [iii]
Dr. David Derry said, “Lugol's solution is an iodine-in-water solution used by the medical profession for 200
years. One drop (6.5 mg per drop) of Lugol's daily in water, orange juice or milk will gradually eliminate the
first phase of the cancer development namely fibrocystic disease of the breast so no new cancers can start. It
also will kill abnormal cells floating around in the body at remote sites from the original cancer. Of course
this approach appears to work for prostate cancer as prostate cancer is similar to breast cancer in many
respects. Indeed, it likely will help with most cancers. Also higher doses of iodine are required for
inflammatory breast cancer. As well we know that large doses of intravenous iodine are harmless, which
makes one wonder what effect this would have on cancer growth.”
Because iodine deficiency results in increased iodine trapping by the thyroid, iodine deficient individuals of
all ages are more susceptible to radiation-induced thyroid cancer.
Iodine plays a crucial role in the body’s elimination system by inducing apoptosis, or what is called
programmed cell death, and this is vital because this process is essential to growth and development and for
destroying cells that represent a threat to the integrity of the organism, like cancer cells and cells infected
with viruses.
"Women with goiters (a visible, non-cancerous enlargement of the thyroid gland) owing to iodine deficiency
have been found to have a three times greater incidence of breast cancer. A high intake of iodine is
associated with a low incidence breast cancer, and a low intake with a high incidence of breast cancer."
Dr. Donald Miller Jr.
"Iodine is a very important primary nutrient in regards to people’s health and healing. So essential is iodine
for life that those who are deficient in it suffer from a wide variety of afflictions (including cancer) that are
difficult to trace back to this trace mineral. Iodine used to be considered much more important, so much so
that up until 20 years ago, it had been routinely added to bread as a supplement.
"Just how likely is an iodine deficiency in cancer? In an in-house study, 60 cancer patients (various types)
were given the iodine-loading test and then measured for urinary excretion. All 60 patients were found to be
seriously deficient in body stores of iodine and some had great excesses of bromine [which neutralizes
iodine]. The best case excreted only 50 percent of the load and the worst excreted only 20 percent (that
means they were retaining a very high 80 percent). Folks, these are some serious numbers. One hundred
percent of these cancer sufferers were deficient in iodine! I assure you the problem is population wide,"
writes Dr. Robert Rowen.
60 million mainland Japanese consume a daily average of 13.8 mg of elemental iodine, and they are one of
the healthiest nations based on overall well being and cancer statistics. [iv]
Iodine is available in small amounts in some salts but health officials do not consider the fact that most of the
iodine evaporates while sitting on the kitchen table. In the United States 45 percent of American households
buy salt without iodine and over the last three decades people who do use iodized table salt have decreased
their consumption of it by 65 percent. Americans are consuming less iodine when in reality they need much
more.
Iodine the Antiseptic
"Iodine is by far the best antibiotic, antiviral and antiseptic of all time." Dr. David Derry
The antiseptic properties of iodine are used to sterilize every surface and material in hospitals. Iodine is an
excellent microbiocide with a broad range of action that includes almost all of the important health-related
microorganisms, such as enteric bacteria, enteric viruses, bacterial viruses, fungi and protozoan cysts. [v]
The minimum number of iodine molecules required to destroy one bacterium varies with the species. For H.
influenzae it was calculated to be 15000 molecules of iodine per cell. When bacteria are treated with iodine,
the inorganic phosphate up-take and oxygen consumption by the cells immediately ceases. [vi]
Although iodine kills all single celled organisms such as these, it is not exploited for internal use by modern
day physicians to combat internal infections, which of course is a great mistake. Dr. Derry says iodine is
effective “for standard pathogens such as Staphylococcus, but also iodine has the broadest range of action,
fewest side effects and no development of bacterial resistance.” Some doctors have reported that it is
excellent for the treatment of mononucleosis.
Iodine is a gatekeeper of mammary gland integrity
"Breast, ovarian, and skin cysts - In addition to fixing almost all cases of breast cysts, iodine also has a
remarkable healing effect on ovarian cysts,” says Dr. Robert Rowen. Though few know it, swollen ovaries
are a condition analogous to goiter, when the thyroid swells in response to iodine deficiency. Goiters often
also result in a hormonal imbalance leading to hypothyroidism. In the case of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
(PCOS) the starvation of the ovaries causes them to become cystic, swollen and eventually unable to regulate
the synthesis of their hormones leading to imbalances and infertility. Russian studies when investigating
Fibrocystic breast disease also discovered that the greater the iodine deficiency the greater the number of
cysts in the ovaries. Since 1928, the iodine concentration in the ovary has been known to be higher than in
every other organ except the thyroid. Dr. Browstein has found in his research with high doses of iodine that
cysts on the ovaries became smaller and began to disappear. He also found that libido in women and men
increased.
It takes 20 to 40 times the amount of Iodine needed to control breast cancer and fibrocystic disease than it
does to prevent goiter.
Breast tissue has an affinity for iodine. Iodine deficiency causes fibrocystic breast disease with nodules, cyst
enlargement, pain and scar tissue.
Drs. Abraham, Flechas and Brownstein tested more than 4,000 patients taking iodine in daily doses ranging
from 12.5 to 50 mg, and in those with diabetes, up to 100 mg a day. These investigators found that “iodine
does indeed reverse fibrocystic disease; their diabetic patients require less insulin; hypothyroid patients, less
thyroid medication; symptoms of fibromyalgia resolve, and patients with migraine headaches stop having
them.” We can expect even better results when iodine is combined with magnesium chloride.
According to my experience and understanding the greatest benefit of high iodine intake is its effectiveness
in killing Candida and other fungi and microbes. This may also be a reason for its effectiveness with breast
cancer and fibrocystic disease in breasts, ovaries and uterus. The secret of this success may be the fact that
both iodine and fungi have an affinity for the mucous membranes. By keeping the mucous membranes
healthy iodine greatly helps to overcome autoimmune diseases, sinus problems, asthma, lung cancer, and
other lung problems, and also intestinal diseases, including inflammatory conditions, and cancers. Studies
indicate that the best iodine supplement is one that includes molecular iodine, which breast tissue prefers.
You may monitor your thyroid function by checking your temperature before getting up in the morning.
Measuring under the tongue is more reliable than in the armpit. Women before menopause measure in the
first half of the cycle before ovulation and best in the first week after the start of a new period. The
temperature should be 36.5ºC (97.6ºF) or higher, otherwise the thyroid is likely to be under-active. However,
be sure that you do not have a raised temperature due to a healing reaction or an infection.
For another excellent article see Iodine for Health by Donald W. Miller. A paragraph from this article reads:
“More than 4,000 patients in this project take iodine in daily doses ranging from 12.5 to 50 mg, and in those
with diabetes, up to 100 mg a day. These investigators have found that iodine does indeed reverse fibrocystic
disease; their diabetic patients require less insulin; hypothyroid patients, less thyroid medication; symptoms
of fibromyalgia resolve, and patients with migraine headaches stop having them. To paraphrase Dr. Szent-
Györgi, these investigators aren’t sure how iodine does it, but it does something good.”
