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Can taking an iodine supplement reduce your risk of developing cancer or protect you from the harmful effects of radiation?
Iodine is an essential trace mineral required for the production of thyroid hormones, T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine). The thyroid gland absorbs most of the iodine found in the body.
Radioactive iodine (RAI, I-131) is sometimes used in the treatment of thyroid cancer. It gets taken up by thyroid cells and kills cancerous tissue without harming the rest of the body.
Some research suggests that having low iodine levels in the diet can also increase risk of cancer by impairing immune function. Chronic dysfunction of an organ or tissue makes cancer and other disease more likely. [1]
However, getting too much of this mineral from foods or supplements may also increase the risk of thyroid papillary cancers while decreasing the risk of thyroid follicular cancers.
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Thyroid Function
Weight Loss- Important for thyroid hormones & metabolism
- Supports mental function & immunity
- Essential nutrient with multiple roles in the body
Top Iodine Products* ❯Iodine and Cancer
Iodine is required by the body to synthesize thyroid hormones, which are involved in many different physiological processes affecting all cells within the body.
As a component of T3 and T4, Iodine is involved in metabolism regulation, immune function, cell growth and development and more. It has also been shown to improve antioxidant status in the body and to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects.
Insufficient iodine levels in the diet can result in thyroid disorders. This can increase the risk of dysfunction in the breast, lymph, blood, bone, saliva, lung, thymus, skin, kidney, prostate, colon, bladder, and adrenal glands.
When these organs and tissues experience dysfunction, it can increase the risk of various disease states taking hold.
Researchers are now investigating the link between iodine status and cancer risk. There is evidence that thyroid disorders are associated with higher incidence of breast cancer, prostate cancer, endometrial, ovarian, colorectal, and thyroid cancer. [5]
According to an article published in the Natural Medicine Journal, “There is substantial evidence that iodine deficiency is a modifiable risk factor in cancers of the stomach and breast and possibly many other organs.” [5]
Dr. Robert DeMaria says that iodine keeps cancers cells “in check” by promoting their natural death. This process is called apoptosis or pre-programmed cell death.
According to Tina Kaczor, ND, “The molecular effects of iodine as well as ongoing epidemiological evidence points to its probable role in prevention of cancers through its antioxidant, antiinflammatory, prodifferentiating, and proapoptotic effects.” [2]
Low Iodine Levels and Cancer Risk
Does being deficient in iodine increase your risk of developing cancer? Evidence from several population studies does suggest a correlation between dietary intake and cancer rates.
In one study, rates of goiter (a sign of iodine deficiency) were twice as high in people with gastric cancer compared to a control population. [5]
Another study from Iran found that people with stomach cancer had lower levels of iodine in their urine. Among cancer patients, 49% had a severe iodine deficiency compared to 19.1% in the control group.
Comparatively, the country of Japan is known to have high dietary intake of iodine, approximately 25 times greater than average intake in the United States. Japanese people also have a significantly lower risk of prostate cancer (roughly 27% the incidence rate).
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 35% of the global population is deficient in iodine. Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are an international health concern and can increase the likelihood of developing:
- Goiter (enlarged thyroid gland);
- Hypothyroidism (low thyroid activity);
- Autoimmune thyroiditis;
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis;
- Thyroid nodules;
According to Dr. Jorge D. Flechas, people who have goiter are at increased risk for thyroid, breast, stomach, esophageal, ovarian and endometrial cancer. [3]
Dr. Flechas says that a lack of iodine in different tissues in the body can cause the following:
- In the thyroid, it can cause goiter which increases the chance of thyroid cancer.
- In the breast, it ca causes fibrocystic breast disease which increases the risk for breast cancer.
- In the stomach, it decreases acid production, possibly causing achlorhydria which increases the risk for stomach cancer.
- In the endometrium, it can cause endometriosis which increases the risk for endometrial cancer.
- In the ovaries, it can lead to PCOS which increases the risk of ovarian cancer.
Dr. Flechas states that the symptoms of low iodine levels affect tissues and organs throughout the body; not only thyroid gland tissues. He compares fibrocystic breast disease to breast goiter, PCOS to ovarian goiter, and achlorhydria to stomach goiter. [3]
How Much Iodine Do I Need Every Day?
There is ongoing debate about the need for iodine supplementation. Some health professionals argue that a deficiency in this mineral is rare and that use of supplements increases the risk of side effects.
Others claim that deficiency is more widespread than what is reported and that supplements are well-tolerated.
Dr. David Brownstein says that he and his colleagues have tested more than 6000 people over the years in his practice as an endocrinologist. He claims that more than 90% of them were deficient in iodine with many being “severely deficient”.
However, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, “Most people in the United States consume sufficient iodine in their diets from iodized salt and food additives.”
According to the US Food and Drug Administration, healthy adults should get at least 150 micrograms (mcg) of iodine daily. Note that a microgram is one one-millionth of a gram (g) and one one-thousandth of a milligram (mg).
Many health professionals believe that 150 mcg daily is not enough to support optimal health, given the important roles for this mineral in the human body.
150 mcg is known as the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) and it was established as the lowest amount found to reverse thyroid goiter.
Some health professionals recommend taking between 1000 mcg to 12,500 mcg per day of this essential mineral by consuming iodine-rich foods or using a dietary supplement.
The FDA states that the Upper Tolerable Daily limit (UL) for iodine is 1100 mcg (1.1 mg). This is the maximum level of nutrient intake that is likely to pose no risk of negative effects for the majority of people in the general population.
However, people in Japan consume many times more than the RDA and the UL without experience adverse outcomes. Studies show that there are no adverse effects associated with daily intake between 5280 mcg to 13,800 mcg from food sources.
According to researchers from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, “The safety of therapeutic doses of iodine above the established safe upper limit of 1 mg is evident in the lack of toxicity in the Japanese population that consumes 25 times the median intake of iodine consumption in the United States.” [4]
If you are considering using an iodine supplement to address cancer risk or for other reasons, it is important to consult with a medical professional to determine whether this supplement is appropriate for you.
The FDA has not approved iodine supplementation for the prevention or treatment of cancer. More research is needed to determine whether it works or not.
Iodine and Radiation Risk
Nuclear disasters like the one in Fukushima, Japan in 2011 release massive amounts of radioactive iodides into the environment.
When these radioactive molecules are absorbed by the thyroid gland, it can cause radiation injury and lead to thyroid dysfunction. This can increase the risk for goiter and thyroid cancer.
Using a stable iodine supplement like KI (potassium iodide) can block the absorption of radioactive iodine and protect against radiation poisoning.
According to Dr. Sircus, “When faced with a radioactive cloud, as is everyone in the northern hemisphere thanks to Fukushima, it is absolutely imperative that we take iodine, whatever iodine you can get your hands on.”
He believes that all people should be supplementing their diets with iodine, especially anyone living on the west coast of Canada, the US and Mexico.
Dr. Brownstein states that if we have enough nonradioactive iodine in our bodies, then radioactive molecules are less likely to be taken up by the thyroid gland. He says it is very important to achieve iodine sufficiency before being exposed to radiation.
According to Dr. Michael B. Schachter, daily iodine doses between 12.5 mg and 50 mg are used in those who have insufficient levels of this mineral in their body. He says, for the average iodine-insufficient person, it would take up to one year to become sufficient if taking 12.5 mg/day doses.
Radioactive Iodine
Radioactive iodine (Radioiodine, RAI) is a special type of iodine used as an adjunct therapy for thyroid cancer.
When cancer cells develop in the thyroid gland, it becomes necessary to destroy these cells to prevent the cancer from spreading. RAI is used to target cells in the thyroid and promote apoptosis.
Research shows that use of RAI therapy can improve the survival rate in patients with papillary or follicular thyroid cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. It may not be as beneficial in patients with cancers isolated to the thyroid gland that can be removed by surgery.
Radioactive iodine is also used to treat conditions in which the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. Small amounts of Iodine-131 are used to slow down the production of T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine), restoring normal metabolic regulation.
Article last updated on: July 2nd, 2018 by Nootriment