Prostate and breast cancer and omega 6s and 3s

     A study [1] found significant differences in the amount of omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids levels in tissue taken from benign and malignant prostate cancer tumors from within the same prostate specimen. Malignant tissue samples were found to have less total omega-6 fatty acids then the benign samples. The tissue levels of the specific types were also different.
The malignant tissue had more of the dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) (C20:3w6) an omega 6 fatty acid and precursor to other omega 6 metabolites. There was significantly less of two omega 6 fatty acids. Arachidonic acid (AA) (C20:4w6), and adrenic acid, (C22:4w6) were at lower levels  in cancer tissue that was malignant compared to tissue that was benign. The abstract to the study concludes with the statement “These findings provide additional evidence that dietary fat is associated with prostatic carcinogenesis.”
     It seems to me that if the samples were simply from different areas of the same specimen that the same human would have been eating the same dietary fats. The two types of tissue from within the same gland would have received the same blood flow and nutrients. So  the malignant tissue had less AA and adrenic acid and less total omega 6 fatty acids but more DGLA than the benign tissue. So something is happening in that malignant tissue that isn’t happening in the benign tissue and the net effect is loss of total omega 6 content. Something else has to be associated with the malignant prostatic carcinogenesis because the dietary fat is going to both the benign and the malignant tissue.
     Elsewhere information has been discovered that malignant prostate cancer cells can make an enzyme that can convert Arachidonic acid into a form usable as a food source for the malignant growth. Increased intake of CLA and ginger may help preserve arachidonic acid from being converted to 5-HETE which the cancer cells can use as an energy source. [Ginger slows prostate cancer growth] (10/20/2011) So targeting the enzyme  that converts AA to 5-HETE would make more sense than wondering what omega 6 and omega 3 ratio on the person’s plate might turn malignant cells back into benign ones. /speculation – The fat ratio in meals may have some effect  on slowing or speeding the growth rate of the cancer cells but it is unlikely to be able to change it back to benign. Some information suggests that malignancy might be preventable and that cancer metastasis might be reduced by avoiding animal products that are rich in free AA. donmatesz
AA forms part of the structure of membranes under normal conditions. AA can be converted from lecithin and combined with ethanolamine to become anandamide, an endogenous cannabinoid (eCB). Lab tests find free AA after it has been broken down from eCBs in response to inflammatory signals.
     The eCBs in times of health are part of the membrane structure and there would be little free AA. Controlling the diet for excess calcium and glutamates may help in addition to adding conjugated linolenic acid (CLA) and ginger. The omega 3s and omega 6s are groups of various chemicals that do not have the same functions and their risks and benefits may vary based on individual differences.
Adequate omega 3 fatty acid is important for heart health and mental health. They have been found helpful for depression, diabetes (ALA) and other diagnoses.
     /speculation/ Linolenic acid and omega 6’s may have gotten a bad name partially because larger research studies may not have excluded people with undiagnosed prostate or breast cancer. Their negative responses to a diet high in LA may have skewed the results of other people with normal tolerance for foods with LA or animal products rich in lecithin or AA (chicken, eggs and beef are the richest sources).
/speculation #2/ Over cooking the food source may increase the amount of free AA that is released. Differences in how foods were prepared for the different studies may have modified the results.
  1. A comparative study of tissue ω-6 and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in benign and malignant pathologic stage pT2a radical prostatectomy specimens.Schumacher MC, Laven B, Petersson F, Cederholm T, Onelöv E, Ekman P, Brendler C.  Urol Oncol. 2011 Mar 31. Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet Department of Urology, Stockholm, Sweden.PMID: 21414816  [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21414816]
  2. ***infertile men had more omega 6 (AA) and less omega 3  than fertile men. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19666200]
  3. ***supplementation with GLA in attempt to modify inflammatory blood chemistry. It worked somewhat.  [ajcn.org/content/77/1/37.full]
  4. [walnuts.org/alphalinolenic-acid/]
Disclaimer: This is provided for informational purposes only. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.

Carrots, spices and baby aspirin help prevent cancer and inflammation

 Aspirin has two active parts that help reduce pain and swelling. The salicylate was first isolated from myrtle and willow tree bark but it has since been identified in many plants and is particularly rich in herbs and spices including turmeric and mint. A compound similar to curcumin found in the spice turmeric has been found to have similar bioactivity and structure to salicylic acid. Benefits may include reduced breast, colon and prostate cancer risks:

“Dibenzoylmethane (DBM) has been reported to exhibit chemopreventive activities in several animal models, including mammary, colon and prostate tumorigenesis during the past few years.2,12–16” [2]

Production of the isolated phytochemicals are being studied but in the meantime spicing up the diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices seems like a good bet and it looks like a baby Aspirin might help protect against breast and prostate cancer as well as cardiovascular disease. Eating more fiber rich produce and spices would help protect against ulcer risks associated with regular use of Aspirin or ibuprofen (I think if I looked that ibuprofen would have similar protective effects because it also reduces the breakdown of endogenous cannabinoids which would reduce free arachidonic acid availability for breast or prostate cancer cells).

From the research article: Table 1: Examples of total salicylate content of food items. [1]
Fruits
Vegetables
Food Item
Salicylate/ mg/kg
Food Item
Salicylate / mg/kg
Blackberries
0.81
Asparagus
1.29
Blueberries
0.57
Carrots
0.16
Gala melon
0.62
Celery
0.04
Grapefruit
0.44
Green beans
0.07
Green apple
0.55
Mange tout
0.20
Kiwi fruit
0.31
Mushroom (button)
0.13
Nectarine
3.29
Onion (white)
0.80
Strawberry
0.61
Tomato
0.13
Drinks
Spices and Herbs
Apple juice
0.83
Black cumin
25.05
Cranberry juice
0.99
Cumin
29.76
Grapefruit juice
0.10
Chat masala
  5.74
Orange juice
0.68
Garam masala
12.85
Pineapple juice
4.06
Paprika
28.25
Tomato juice
1.32
Turmeric
20.88
White wine
0.44
Thyme
28.60
Red wine
0.50
Mint
54.20
Tea
1.06
Fennel
14.00

1. [pubs.rsc.org] Garry G. Duthie and Adrian D. Wood, Natural salicylates: foods, functions and disease prevention, Food Funct, 2011, 2, 515-520, DOI: 10.1039/C1F010128E (full text free with login registration)

“Rodent models using ‘‘nutritional’’ rather than ‘‘pharmaceutical’’ dietary intakes indicate that salicylic acid modulates a range of proteins involved in protein folding, transport, energy metabolism and cytoskeletal regulation.40,41 The biological significance of these changes is unclear. However, several of the identified proteins are known to be involved in two major redox pathways (thioredoxin and glutathione). This strongly suggests that salicylic acid modulates interactive components of the cellular redox system, such as glutathione S-transferase yb-2, p53 and AP-1.42 Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and several cancers.43 Consequently, cellular exposure to low concentrations of salicylic acid may benefit health by regulating the activity or expression of transcription factors involved in modulating oxidative stress, such as the antioxidant response element.44 This potential effect is not, however, unique to salicylic acid as other dietary-derived phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids, also activate this enhancer sequence, thus mediating the transcriptional activation of genes in cells exposed to oxidative stress.45”

“The bioactivity of Aspirin is unique in that it is characterised by two compounds within the same molecule. In addition to salicylic acid, the acetyl moiety is released within minutes of Aspirin consumption by enzymatic hydrolytic cleavage by esterases in the intestine, blood and liver.68 The binding of the acetyl group to serine530 in platelets inactivates the active site of cycloxygenase-1, thus preventing the access of arachidonic acid and irreversibly inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. (*** also preventing access by prostate and breast cancer cells to the arachidonic acid breakdown metabolite 5-HETE) The resultant prevention of platelet aggregation is a major reason for the widespread use of Aspirin in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.69 However, the other primary metabolite of Aspirin , salicylic acid, has a much longer half-life of several hours.70 It is likely that its broad spectrum of cellular targets, already discussed, contributes to disease prevention through, for example, its anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and antioxidant activity. This view is supported by meta-analyses,71–73 which strongly corroborate the hypothesis that the regular consumption of Aspirin -derived salicylic acid can inhibit the incidence and progression of several diseases where platelet function is not a major consideration. However, the doses employed in such trials (30–1300 mg day 1) exceed that which can be obtained from diet alone. Current clinical data are most supportive of a 75 mg daily dose of Aspirin 74 (equivalent to 66 mg salicylic acid), which is readily available from pharmacies and retail outlets in the UK. Larger doses may be required to obtain significant anticancer effects, although a recent population study75 showed for the first time that doses of around 100 mg day 1 may confer some protection. This does not preclude the possibility that the sustained lower intakes achievable by the regular consumption of salicylate-rich diets may also have a disease-preventative activity. However, to date, no double-blind randomised controlled trials using doses of 5–10mg salicylic acid have been conducted in support of the hypothesis that dietary salicylates have long term health benefits. It should also be pointed out that even with therapeutic doses of acetylated salicylic acid of 75mg day 1, there is a peptic ulcer incidence of 5–10% over 3–6 months of usage, a bleeding complication rate of 0.5–2.0 per 100 patient years and a mortality rate of ulcer complications of about 5% of those who have been admitted to hospital due to ulcer bleeding.76 It is likely that the risk of GI toxicity from salicylate levels in food is low, but as a note of caution, Aspirin intakes as low as 10mg day 1 are reported to produce demonstrable gastric damage in humans.77”

Future perspectives

“Interest in the potential beneficial effects of dietary salicylates has arisen, in part, because of the extensive literature on the disease preventative effects of Aspirin . However, it should not be forgotten that plant products found to contain salicylic acid are generally rich sources of other phenolic acids. For example, rich sources of hydroxycinnamic acids such as ferulic, synapic and caffeic acids include legumes, cocoa, fruit, herbs, nuts and cereals. In addition to salicylic acid, other hydroxybenzoic acids such as protocatechuic, vanillic and syringic acids are present in wine, berries, herbs, fruit juices and tea.78 Daily intakes of many may markedly exceed that of salicylic acid. Estimated intakes of caffeic and ferulic acid in a Finnish population are 417 and 129 mg, respectively.79 Many of these compounds also have a marked anti-inflammatory and redox-related bioactivity in mammalian cells.80 Their potential protective effects should not be overlooked. In this context, the importance of dietary salicylic acid should not perhaps be over emphasised. “

***This research team is encouraging the use of whole foods and the intake of a variety of active phytochemicals in the same dose. Earlier within the article the anti-cancer benefits of the dose available from food intake are compared with the dose from a baby aspirin or regular dose aspirin. Within the discussion section, excerpted above, the authors point out that many other active phytochemicals contained within a food would boost the active dose from eating more produce, herbs and tea (and moderate amounts of wine).

2. [pubs.rsc.org] Chuan-Chuan Lin, Yue Liu, Chi-Tang Ho and Mou-Tuan Huang, Inhibitory effects of 1,3-bis-(2-substituted-phenyl)-propane-1,3-dione, β-diketone structural analogues of curcumin, on chemical-induced tumor promotion and inflammation in mouse skin, Food Funct., 2011, 2, 78-83 DOI: 10.1039/C0FO00098A
Disclaimer: Opinions are my own and the information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.

Ginger slows prostate cancer growth

In a study at Georgia State University whole ginger extract was found to slow growth rate and to cause the death of pancreas cancer cells (PC-3 line) in petri dish type studies and in live mice. [1]

Two grams of ginger per day for one month time periods was found successful at reducing inflammation of the intestinal lining in human studies. [5,6] Free arachidonic acid levels were reduced. Arachidonic acid levels are typically increased in inflammation and it has been found to be a precursor for 5-HETE, a main energy source for stimulating prostate cancer cell growth. [8-12] The prostate cancer cells seem to have the ability to increase production of  an enzyme that converts arachidonic acid (half of the endogenous cannabinoid, anandamide) into 5-HETE which is a form needed by the cancer cells.

Conjugated linolenic acid (CLA) was used successfully to reduce breast tumor growth in a study regarding the same enzyme from the prostate cancer cells, 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO). The CLA, an essential fatty acid, was not found to be inhibiting the 5-LO enzyme but instead it was reducing the enzyme’s activating protein and possibly competing with arachidonic acid (also an essential fatty acid). It might be able to stand in for the 5-LO enzyme but less 5-HETE was being produced and breast tumor cell growth was “attenuated” (sounds like a good thing).

Attenuation can be defined as the process by which a virus, bacterium, etc., changes under laboratory conditions to become harmless or less virulent.

So I think this research shows:

  1. Prostate and breast cancer cells have learned how to make the 5-LO enzyme or more likely how to make 5-LO’s activating protein
  2. In humans, mice, and in petri dish studies, ginger has been found to inhibit the action of 5-LO from converting as much arachidonic acid into 5-HETE and slowing prostate cancer cell growth.
  3. Conjugated linolenic acid may also help slow the conversion by taking the place of the arachidonic acid and/or by inhibiting the activating protein.
  4. If a patient has breast or prostate cancer currently then do eat at least two grams of ginger extract per day. I aim for a 5 gram per day arthritis research-pain killing intake – which is about a teaspoon of the powder. I sprinkle on a variety of foods or beverages throughout the day or I eat the crystallized ginger or cook with the raw root as well. Easy bruising, blood thinning properties, are the only side effect that I’ve noticed and only when I’m eating the candied ginger as well as the powder.
  5. Avoiding excess amounts of foods rich in arachidonic acid [livestrong.com AA food sources], while fighting prostate or breast cancer and increasing CLA and omega 3 fatty acids might help reduce the 5-HETE availability to cancer cells.
  6. Increasing intake of the other endogenous cannabinoid building blocks, the essential phospholipids could help rebuild stronger membranes. Loss of the arachidonic acid as a membrane building block leaves weakened defenses against other infections. Anandamide, the endogenous cannabinoid that contains arachidonic acid, isn’t the only one, so medical marijuana – an external source of cannabinoids,  might not be the only solution to rebuilding strong membranes without also feeding the cancer cells. – Flaw in that plan is that the foods high in arachidonic acid also tend to be good sources of phospholipids – not really a surprise –  half the brain weight is made up of phospholipids.

________________________________________________________________________
Addition Dec. 15, 2011:  [drdavidbrownstein.blogspot.com]  has info about iodine levels in association with breast and prostate cancer rates.

*This list of articles was tacked on the eicosanoid article but it became apparent that more discoveries had been made regarding ginger itself.

1. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21849094] 2011 Aug 18:1-12. [Epub ahead of print] Benefits of whole ginger extract in prostate cancer. Karna P, Chagani S, Gundala SR, Rida PC, Asif G, Sharma V, Gupta MV, Aneja R. Source: Dept. of Biology, Georgia State U., Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.

*These articles were tacked on the bottom of the eicosanoid article but it became apparent that more discoveries had been made regarding ginger itself.

4. “Nutritional Sources of Arachidonic Acid, Livestrong.com [livestrong.com]

5. [mdnews.com]
Colon Inflammation Markers Lower With Ginger Extract

*** Two grams of ginger was given daily for 30 days and intestinal lining inflammation seemed improved based on reduced free arachidonic acid (which is released from breakdown of the endogenous cannabinoids after they are released from their membrane storage in response to elevated intracellular calcium or glutamate levels – just to review from a few blogs ago).

6. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/] 
Zick SM, Turgeon DK, Vareed SK, Ruffin MT, Litzinger AJ, Wright BD, Alrawi S, Normolle DP, Djuric Z, Brenner DE. Phase II Study of the Effects of Ginger Root Extract on Eicosanoids in Colon Mucosa in People at Normal Risk for Colorectal Cancer.Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2011 Oct 11.

7. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/]

Prostaglandins Leukot Med. 1986 Dec;25(2-3):187-98. Isolation and effects of some ginger components of platelet aggregation and eicosanoid biosynthesis. Srivastava KC.

“Interestingly the incorporation of AA into platelet phospholipids increased in platelets treated with aqueous ginger extract.”

***** Swish and score – ginger helped the body to rebuild endogenous cannabinoids – AA plus phospholipid = healthy rebuilt membranes and endogenous cannabinoids reloaded ready for the next stress signal to fire them off where they can be messengers or be transformed into eicosanoids or other metabolites.

8.  [/i4cmwo.com.au/ginger.html]

** I should have just read this one first. It seems that prostate cancer eats only a metabolite of arachidonic acid – which itself is a building block of endogenous cannabinoids and strong membranes. It would be to the cancer cell’s advantage to have learned how to use the body’s own system to mobilize resources as a way to get nutrients for themselves. The cancer cell can make the enzyme that activates vitamin 25-D to hormone 1,25-D; hormone 1,25-D signals the bones to release calcium; increased intracellular levels of calcium signal the release of endogenous cannabinoids from membrane storage – arachidonic acid and free phospholipids – cancer food. In the placenta they would have become nutrients for the fetus.

9. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Jagadananda Ghosh and Charles E. Myers, Inhibition of arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase triggers massive apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998 October 27; 95(22): 13182–13187.    ***I think this might be the research mentioned in the previous link.

10. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Cancer. 2001 Feb 15;91(4):737-43. Lipoxygenase-5 is overexpressed in prostate adenocarcinoma. Gupta S, Srivastava M, Ahmad N, Sakamoto K, Bostwick DG, Mukhtar H.

***Aha, the problem – the prostate cancer cells have learned how to signal the body to make the 5-Lipoxygenase so more ginger for men as a preventative and if prostate cancer is already present then excess intake of arachidonic acid foods may not be good.

11.  [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov] Myers CE, Ghosh J Lipoxygenase inhibition in prostate cancer.. Eur Urol. 1999;35(5-6):395-8.
12. [ncbi.nlm.nih] Carcinogenesis. 2011 Jun;32(6):822-8. Epub 2011 Mar 10. Enhanced formation of 5-oxo-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid by cancer cells in response to oxidative stress, docosahexaenoic acid and neutrophil-derived 5-hydroxy-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid. Grant GE, Rubino S, Gravel S, Wang X, Patel P, Rokach J, Powell WS.

***Did anyone besides me notice that they stimulated those cancer cells with calcium? Might simply not over stimulating cancer with excess calcium be an attractive target for cancer therapy? and cheap? – less calcium intake – more health output? /speculation/

13. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov] Biochim Biophys Acta. 2005 Oct 1;1736(3):244-50. Attenuation of breast tumor cell growth by conjugated linoleic acid via inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase activating protein. Kim JH, Hubbard NE, Ziboh V, Erickson KL.

***Take home point – if you already have breast cancer (and probably similar for prostate cancer) then consuming more CLA type of good fats may help reduce the over-conversion of arachidonic acid into the cancer friendly type, 5-HETE.
Disclaimer: This is provided for informational purposes. Please see a health professional for the purposes of individual health care.

Hypothyroid or Iodine Deficient ?

Both is the answer or kind-of is the answer to the question in the title. I realize I never answered it directly in the post or may not have explained it clearly. We may have the RDA, the Recommended Daily Allowance, of iodine in a supplement or fortified products each day — but if the environment and diet are also providing the chemically similar minerals bromide, perchlorate (chloride), and fluoride then the body may be making thyroid hormone with the atoms of bromide, chloride and fluoride instead of with atoms of iodine and a lab test might show the presence of thyroid hormone but that lab test wouldn’t be testing specifically for the presence of iodine.
     Thyroid hormone might be present that contained bromide, chloride, or fluoride, or a combination, but it wouldn’t actually function within the energy pathways in the body and symptoms of tiredness and other symptoms of hypothyroidism.  A very large dose of iodine taken for one month can help the body replace the wrong atoms in the thyroid hormone with atoms of iodine. The presence of bromide, chloride and fluoride may be involved in risk for autoimmune thyroid disease and cancer of the thyroid or other endocrine glands. More is included on these topics later in this post. It can also help resolve the pain of fibrocystic breast disease, that topic isn’t included in this post but I did find it helpful for resolving that condition for me, and it hasn’t returned. I had symptoms of it for years and the standard answer is along the lines of “we don’t know,” – well I know that for me my condition resolved after taking a large dose of iodine for one month and then a smaller but still larger than RDA dose for several years — but I didn’t know about or forgot the selenium and ran into hyperthyroid problems, more on that –>
*This updated post is not about being fat or thin, or “body-shaming,” inner beauty has nothing to do with size, however good health can have to do with size.  Mood and skill in social settings can also be affected by size.  Information about cancer is included in this post because a problem with iodine deficiency can increase risk for cancer.
     The commonly used treatment for hypothyroidism within the current medical community is simply replacement of the thyroid hormone which is not addressing iodine deficiency for the thyroid gland or for the rest of the endocrine glands and the rest of the body. The thyroid organ can preferentially take up iodine when there is a limited supply, so a diagnosis of hypothyroidism suggests the rest of the body has even less iodine than the thyroid gland. Other side effects of hypothyroidism include depression, extreme tiredness, feeling cold, a tendency towards gaining weight and for constipation – everything slows down in the body when there is inadequate thyroid hormone or when it is present but not functioning correctly.
     It is more comfortable to not weigh an excessive amount and it is more comfortable to have energy and not feel depressed and cold.
     Showing the two pictures below is again, not about “body-shaming,” but was to give some idea of my past. Overweight women are somewhat invisible to men and to other women who care a lot about image. I have the social skills of an overweight woman, not those of a woman used to fending off unwanted attention from strangers or old acquaintances. I’ve never been to a fancy “cocktail party” if such a thing still occurs outside an episode of Mad Men (aka/the 1950’s). Or – more accurately – I have the social skills of someone with child trauma issues who may not have tried much in life and never gained experience and learned better skills.
     It takes a while to learn what you don’t know and further, to learn how many layers of not-knowing-what-you-didn’t-know and that you’ll have to learn about and work through before you will really get to the core issue or issues.
     A core issue revealed in the first picture is hyperthyroidism – I look thinner than typical for me. In the second picture I’m heavier but that was the weight that stubbornly stuck no matter how hard I tried to diet and exercise it off – until I took the large dose iodine supplement. My problem turned out to be the selenium. I didn’t learn about that until later after having developed hyperthyroid symptoms. Autoimmune thyroid problems can fluctuate between hypothyroid – low activity, and hyperthyroid – elevated activity. The first picture is me with hyperthyroidism and the second picture is hypothyroid.
     We all do need iodine though. I have to limit how much I eat now because I still have an overactive autoimmune thyroid condition. I do eat some iodine foods but not much iodized products or any supplements and I do try to eat selenium rich foods regularly, which is about two Brazil nuts per day.
     There aren’t many foods naturally rich in selenium. Coastal ocean microbes transform it from the form found in the ocean water into a form that can be carried in water droplets in the atmosphere where it is rained onto Brazil nut trees in the Amazon rain forest – isn’t our planet amazing?
We all need iodine.
This is how I spent most of my years as an adult, before I took iodine supplements.

The rate of infants born with congenital hypothyroidism has been escalating, baffling many, unless you consider an older diagnostic term – cretinism or iodine deficiency. Cretinism is somewhat reversible if the infant receives adequate iodine after diagnosis, the thyroid gland would grow and begin to produce hormone naturally. If the infant is treated only with synthetic thyroid hormone, then organ development would continue to suffer and the baby will probably need the drug for the rest of its life. Weight gain, fatigue, apathy and depression are common symptoms in adults and children born hypothyroid typically are petite and can have reduced IQ. Women can’t grow babies out of synthetic hormone, but that is what they usually are given if diagnosed with hypothyroidism instead of iodine deficiency.

All of our glands need iodine not just the thyroid gland. The pineal gland, also known in more  ancient terms as our Inner Eye, [crystalinks], has the second largest uptake of iodine and it is crucial for melatonin and a good night’s sleep. [5, 6] The mammary and prostate glands need iodine as well. Prostate and breast cancer also may involve an underlying iodine deficiency [2, 3] and the substitution of bromide, perchlorate and/or fluoride.

Lab tests have become a primary diagnostic tool and if the science underlying their use was wrong then the diagnosis based on the tests may not be very reliable. Our bodies have learned how to fool the lab test’s expectations of goiter by producing thyroid hormone containing fluoride or bromide. The gland is functioning normally but the hormone it is producing won’t prevent the symptoms and malfunction of hypothyroidism.

I had all those symptoms, but my lab tests were normal and therefore I was normal, or so I was told. However, after attending a seminar by Dr. Brownstein, I started a high dose iodine supplement that is equivalent to the amount of iodine provided by the sea weed in the traditional Japanese diet. The supplement that I have taken daily for six years contains 83 times more iodine than our current RDA. Our national guideline for iodine has not been changed since it was created in the 1940’s. Salt doesn’t have that much added to it and we aren’t really using much iodized table salt anymore. Do we reach for the salt shaker when we think about any other vitamin

It is important to get adequate amounts of the trace mineral selenium when supplementing with iodine, especially when using a large dose of iodine. Selenium is essential for the enzyme that breaks down excessive amounts of the active thyroid hormone. Excessive thyroid hormone can cause hyperthyroidism which can be associated with extreme mood and physical symptoms. Selenium can be toxic when excessive amounts are consumed for months.

Approximately two Brazil nuts provide the recommended daily goal of 200 micrograms of selenium. A one-a-day or prenatal vitamin would likely include 200 mcg of selenium. “Selenium” [ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/selenium/]

A peer reviewed article with seaweed nutrient content information suggests that there is a wide range in iodine levels between different types of seaweed and between different samples of the same type of seaweed. [10]

The case study does not mention selenium. Hyperthyroid problems induced by abrupt increased intake of iodine may be mitigated by increasing selenium intake at the same time.

Kelp supplements can contain an unreliable amount of iodine. Out of 17 supplements tested the iodine content ranged from 45 micrograms to 57,000 micrograms. [1]

The kelp supplements content as tested is unreliable and potentially dangerous due to the unknown amount that might be contained. Seaweed also may contains goiterogens that interfere with thyroid function and occasionally toxins or other contaminants can be present due to the variability in ocean waters. [healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=af362d97-4f80-4453-a175-02cc6220a387&chunkiid=21786 ]

Excessive iodine chronically can lead to toxicity side effects that include acne, a metallic taste in the mouth, a persistent mild cough and nasal discharge. The metallic taste can be a short term side effect due to bromide stores being exchanged for iodine. The RDA has been 150 micrograms. The Iodoral supplement that I have been using for six years contains 1250 micrograms of iodine/iodide which is a mega dose but is consistent and known, breaking the tablets and using a portion for a smaller daily dose is possible.

Those at increased risk of developing hypothyroidism include: Postpartum women, Women with family history of autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITD), Those with previous head, neck, or thyroid surgery or irradiation, Those with other autoimmune endocrine disorders (e.g., type 1 diabetes mellitus, adrenal insufficiency, or ovarian failure), Those with nonendocrine autoimmune disorders (e.g., vitiligo, multiple sclerosis), Patients with primary pulmonary hypertension, Those with Down’s or Turner’s syndromes. 

The following biological activities are particularly impaired by hypothyroidism: Calorigenic modification, Oxygen consumption throughout most tissues, Protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism, Augmentation of calcium ATPase activity in cardiac muscle, Mitochondrial ATP production, G-protein-coupled membrane receptor activity, Organ-specific effects. 

The clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism (see Symptoms) are the result of effects occurring at the molecular level because of the impact of thyroid hormone insufficiency.” Read more: [medicinalplants.us/hypothyroidism ]

December 15, 2011 addition:

  • “Asian countries, such as Japan, have low rates of breast cancer, while Western countries have cancer rates that are many times higher. 25,26 However, when Japanese girls are raised on westernized diets, their rate of breast cancer increases dramatically.”  [cancerproject.org/survival/cancer_facts/breast.php]
  • Some statistics about prostate and breast cancer rates compared to iodine levels. [drdavidbrownstein.blogspot.com/2009/05/rapid-increase-in-thyroid-cancer.html]
  • www.faostat.fao.org – world food supply statistics. ***The world three year average consumption of Aquatic Plants ( aka seaweed) for 2007-2005 is zero if you remove the three out-lying values out of the 154 countries with data. The countries with Aquatic Plant consumption are China – 20.39 grams/capita/day, Japan- 4.02 gr/cap/day, and the Republic of Korea – 35.28 gr/capita/day. [faostat.fao.org/site/610/DesktopDefault.aspx?PageID=610#ancor]
  • The Japanese intake of 4.02 grams Aquatic Plants may provide a safe amount of iodine without an excess of goiterogens that may be provided in the Chinese 20.39 average intake or the Republic of Korea’s 35.28 grams/capita/day of Aquatic Plants.
  • The World’s Healthiest Foods website,”Sea Vegetables, What’s New and Beneficial about Sea Vegetables?” – recipes and health information for a variety of sea vegetables. [whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=135 ]
  • Nutrient information for Kelp lists iodine content as 415 micrograms per 20 gram serving. The U.S. Nutrient Data Base # 11445, Seaweed, Kelp Raw did not have a line for Iodine content. Based on the wide range in content found by the research team in citation #1 it would be hard to estimate how much iodine the Japanese, Chinese, and Republic of Korea citizens might be consuming on average – but it is clearly an excellent source. [whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrientprofile&dbid=51]

For more on hypothyroidism and pickle’s value as a side dish, see my post:  [Vitiligo, hypothyroidism and melanin]

Plastics, pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals may be a major cause of the feminizing of our young men [13] but the lack of iodine is also at fault. The prostate and testicles need iodine in addition to the thyroid, mammary and pineal glands. Switch to stainless steel drinking bottles and filtered water if you are worried about chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system; avoid soda (metal cans are lined with plastic) it is so acidic that it is leaching magnesium from you anyway; and take a high dose iodine or tested seaweed supplement. Boys will only continue to be boys if we provide their pregnant mothers and their growing bodies with nutritious building blocks. We still can’t build a functioning body out of pharmaceuticals or synthetic hormones.

/Disclosure: This information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes./
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  1. Norman JA, Pickford CJ, Sanders TW, et al. Human intake of arsenic and iodine from seaweed-based food supplements and health foods available in the UK. Food Addit Contam. 1988;5:103-109. www.drbrownstein.com/homePage.php
    [drdavidbrownstein.blogspot.com/2009/05/rapid-increase-in-thyroid-cancer.html]
  2. Most Asian Men Have Better Prostate Cancer Survival Rates, Finding could help to govern treatment approaches, study suggests. By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter,  [abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=4508275&page=1]
  3. Race Plays A Key Role In Prostate Cancer Survival Rates, sciencedaily.com,  [sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/06/060613072943.htm]
  4. Watanabe R, Hanmori K, Kadoya H, Nishimuta M, Miyazaki H, Nutritional Intakes in community-swelling older Japanese adults: high intakes of energy and protein based on high consumption of fish, vegetable and fruits provide sufficient micronutrients, J Nutri Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 204 Jun: 50(3): 184-95, [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15386931]
  5. On Pineal calcification and its relation to subjective sleep perception: a hypothesis-driven pilot study, Volume 82, Issue 3, Pages 187-191 (30 June 1998)  [psyn-journal.com/article/S0925-4927%2898%2900013-4/abstract]
  6. Richard Mahlberg, Thorsten Kienast, Degree of pineal calcification (DOC) is associated with polysomnographic sleep measures in primary insomnia patients, [sleep-journal.com/article/S1389-9457%2808%2900154-8/abstract
  7.  “Selenium” [ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/selenium/]
  8. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1924637/table/tbl3/]
  9. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1924637/]
  10. Müssig, K., Thamer, C., Bares, R., Lipp, HP., Häring, HU., Gallwitz, B., Iodine-Induced Thyrotoxicosis After Ingestion of Kelp-Containing Tea, J Gen Intern Med. 2006 June; 21(6): C11–C14. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00416.x. PMCID: PMC1924637
  11. Leung, A.M., Pearce, E.N., Braverman, L.E., Iodine Content of Prenatal Multivitamins in the United States, N Engl J Med 2009; 360:939-940, [nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc0807851]
  12. Jian-Ying Zhan, Yu-Feng Qin and Zheng-Yan Zhao, Neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism and phenylketonuria in China, World Journal of Pediatrics Vol. 5, Number 2, 136-139,  [springerlink.com/content/w7054w4550233404/]
  13. Why so many teen-age boys are wimpy, irresponsible, unmotivated and bored: one of the reasons, gatesofhorn.com,  [gatesofhorn.com/blog/why_so_many_teen_age_boys_are_wimpy_irresponsible_unmotivated_and_bored_one_of_the_reasons]

I need to talk about iodine a bit before I get to the vitamin D and calcium story. I don’t think I would have kicked my migraine and autoimmune problems if I hadn’t conquered my undiagnosed hypothyroidism first. The body can’t do anything without energy and the thyroid hormone is our energizer. Hypothyroid bodies become super efficient at not wasting energy and people can gain weight on 600 calories a day – you can’t live on that. Extreme fatigue, depression, apathy, hair loss, infertility and miscarriages are also common symptoms.