Iodine deficiency ! - falling intakes - goitregens - competition bromine and fluorine

[R.B.]

Is iodine accumulated in fat tissue is a question I have wanted the answer to for a while. This is the first paper I have found that confirms iodine is accumulated in fatty muscle tissue (albeit in pigs).

Six months after an initial single dosage of 480mg dorsal fatty muscle tissue contained over 2 mg per kilo which was way more than the amount in liver skin or lean meat (fig 4).

The accumulation of iodine in fatty tissue for me raises the question if those who have significant fat tissue will require a higher iodine intake, because a greater proportion of any intake will be taken up by the fatty tissue. This is what is seen with vitamin D. The obese will have a lower level of vitamin D in the blood for the same intake compared to a slim person; as a result a greater number of obese people are vitamin D deficient.

In the pigs the measures of iodine such as concentration in urine, blood and thyroid were still higher after 6 months, which begs the question if the iodine is being released from the fat tissue to sustain higher iodine levels.

It also raises the issue of what role does iodine play in fat tissue; for example does it have antioxidant roles.

These are important questions but so far I have failed to find any research looking at these issues in humans.

The intramuscular delivery may have been a slightly more effective vehicle than oral delivery.


Iodine concentrations in porcine blood, urine, and tissues after
a single dose of iodised oil

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...55819444,d.Yms

[R.B.]

This paper recognises it is important to bear in mind the additive effects of iodine blockers as they may well have cumulative effect especially where iodine intake is low.

As discussed to perchlorate, and thiocyantes (from brassica type foods) we can add chlorination, nitrates, some chlorine products, other foods blockers such as agents in soy . . .


Combined effects of perchlorate, thiocyanate, and iodine on thyroid function in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–08

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...13935113000091


Abstract

Perchlorate, thiocyanate, and low iodine intake can all decrease iodide intake into the thyroid gland. This can reduce thyroid hormone production since iodide is a key component of thyroid hormone. Previous research has suggested that each of these factors alone may decrease thyroid hormone levels, but effect sizes are small. We hypothesized that people who have all three factors at the same time have substantially lower thyroid hormone levels than people who do not, and the effect of this combined exposure is substantially larger than the effects seen in analyses focused on only one factor at a time. Using data from the 2007–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, subjects were categorized into exposure groups based on their urinary perchlorate, iodine, and thiocyanate concentrations, and mean serum thyroxine concentrations were compared between groups. Subjects with high perchlorate (n=1939) had thyroxine concentrations that were 5.0% lower (mean difference=0.40 μg/dl, 95% confidence interval=0.14–0.65) than subjects with low perchlorate (n=2084). The individual effects of iodine and thiocyanate were even smaller. Subjects with high perchlorate, high thiocyanate, and low iodine combined (n=62) had thyroxine concentrations 12.9% lower (mean difference=1.07 μg/dl, 95% confidence interval=0.55–1.59) than subjects with low perchlorate, low thiocyanate, and adequate iodine (n=376). Potential confounders had little impact on results. Overall, these results suggest that concomitant exposure to perchlorate, thiocyanate, and low iodine markedly reduces thyroxine production. This highlights the potential importance of examining the combined effects of multiple agents when evaluating the toxicity of thyroid-disrupting agents.
Highlights

► Recent data suggest that essentially everyone in the US is exposed to perchlorate. ► Perchlorate exposure may be associated with lower thyroid hormone levels. ► Some groups may be more susceptible to perchlorate than others.

[R.B.]

A paper looking at development and intelligence in areas including of modest fluoride in water and low iodine.

There is no wider detail as to diet or mineral intake, so much we do not know in terms of potential relevance and comparability to Europe and America.

None the less the paper does indicate potential serious effects on development where fluoride intake is modest and iodine intake low, whcih in light of the figures above as to the iodine status of adolescent and pregnant females in the UK is scary in its possible implications.




http://www.slweb.org/IDD.html



Discussion

One hundred and four children with mental retardation were detected in all. Area A had 25%, area B 16%, and area C 8%. The significant differences in IQ among these regions suggests that fluoride can exacerbate central nervous lesions and somatic developmental disturbance caused by iodine deficiency. This may be in keeping with fluoride's known ability to cause degenerative changes in central nervous system cells and to inhibit the activities of many enzymes, including choline enzymes, causing disturbance of the nerve impulse (5). We found significant differences among the three areas, indicating that lack of iodine in children results in disturbance of the process of growth and ossification and that high fluoride intake can further disturb bone development (6,7). Also, the auditory threshold was significantly different among the three areas, with severe loss of hearing in high fluoride and low iodine areas. Severe iodine deficiency in early fetal life has adverse effects on the development and differentiation of the acoustic organ, and we suggest that high fluoride intake may also promote hearing loss. . . MORE

Summary

We studied a total of 769 schoolchildren of 7-14 years in three areas, characterized by intakes of (A) low iodine, high fluoride; (B) low iodine, normal fluoride; and (C) iodine supplemented, normal fluoride. Results for the following parameters for areas A, B, and C, respectively were: (a) average IQ: 71, 77, 96; (b) average auditory threshold (in dB): 24, 20, 16; (c) bone age retardation (%): 28, 13, 4; (d) thyroid 131I uptake (%): 60, 50, 24; and (e) serum TSH (mU/ml): 21, 11, 6. Statistically significant differences existed between these areas, suggesting that a low iodine intake coupled with high fluoride intake exacerbates the central nervous lesions and the somatic developmental disturbance of iodine deficiency. The detection rate of subclinical endemic cretinism in children with mental retardation was 69%, and the total attack rate of subclinical endemic cretinism 9%.

[R.B.]

Iodine overload - how much is too much ?

Whilst there appears to be significant amount of material suggesting benefits in some from high iodine intake, possibly in those where there has been historic imbalance, or deficiency, and suggestions that some populations have a high intake, there are equally indications that high iodine intake can have adverse consequences.

Daily recommended intakes are in micro grams rather than milligrams. Is this enough given uncertainties as to the level of iodine blockers and competitors such as bromine in our diet. Clearly some think not, and sadly it appears that many are not even getting the minimum requirements in their diet, and that is before the potential blocking of iodine uptake may inhibit their usage of an already very low intake. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/iodine/

There is much we do not know, for example exactly how other dietary factors interact with iodine intake. The Japanese whatever their historic intake was got their intake from natural food based sources mainly seaweed which would also have been mineral rich and interestingly likely contained significant amounts of bromine (seaweed contains quite high levels of bromine generally).

Iodine contents of seaweeds vary considerably, and iodine is lost in processing and drying, which makes iodine intake through seaweed a bit of a lottery, and clearly if somebody has a lot of bromine in their system from artificially brominated foods then intuitively a food source potentially rich in bromide may not be ideal (although it is possible some of the bromine will also be lost in processing)

Bromine in foods is more of a problem in the US than UK due to brominated soft drinks and flour; but bromine may be used in other products viz the fumigation of dried foods such as nuts; nuts contain quite high amounts of bromine it appears. It seems potentially lots of foods are fumigated with bromine. Whilst there may be some restriction on fumigation with bromine in the west with foods being sourced all round the world and complex regulations I suspect sadly the reality is overall we do not know what our food contains.

I have no idea if the relatively high levels of bromine found in nut products is from the soil or fumigation, but would guess it is probably largely from fumigation in the county of origin.

Also as previously mentioned bromine/bromide may be used in the brewing industry. Does it reach the beer; I have not been able to find a definitive answer to the question.

http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5042e/x5042e08.htm "Almost invariably, nuts and shelled nuts are fumigated in the country of origin before export, often with methyl bromide. If more than one fumigation is required after importation, there may be danger of taint and a trial treatment should be made."

Methyl bromide may be particularly well absorbed because it is in an organic form (and differently ? metabolised) - oh dear that raises a whole heap of new questions - as ever things are rarely straight forward - it appears marine organisms produce it and some will end up in the atmosphere. Some plants including the brassicas produce it in small quantities. Large amounts can kill you and do kill customs officers opening containers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bromomethane What effect does the sort of levels found in food have? I have no idea but clearly based on the forgoing a bromine iodine imbalance in the metabolic pathways is a potential health issue.

Back to iodine intake; a Japanese Radiological society paper suggest current intake of iodine was around 1mg with their parents consuming more, but exactly how much we do not know. Higher intakes may be problematic particularly for those with other dietary deficiencies including selenium and other minerals.

The paper below looked at a group of Peace Corp staff who had high iodine intake possibly 50mg a day or more for 32 months. The core conclusion is that those using iodination to decontaminate water need regular medical checks. Interestingly the paper does not recommend that sanitisation of water with iodine should not be used, only that regular checks should take place and particular care should be taken in pregnancy. It is a shame the information is not more comprehensive, and does not look at any longer term implications of high dose iodine intake if any.


Effects of Chronic Iodine Excess in a Cohort of Long-Term American Workers in West Africa

http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/87/12/5499.long

The body of the text contains the following comment; if it means this was the result of examination prior to iodine exposure it adds a further dimension to the results.

There was a high prevalence of goiter among Peace Corps volunteers in this study at baseline in both euthyroid and hypothyroid individuals. . .

Abstracts from text

As the arid climate in Niger results in the daily consumption of 5–9 liters water, the volunteers consumed at least 50 mg iodine daily, which is approximately 300 times the daily U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance (2). Urinary iodine excretion in this iodine-enriched population ranged from 392–153,780 μg/liter (median, 5,048 μg/liter). Volunteers used the water purification devices described above for up to 32 months.

The findings in this study have significant public health implications. In 1998, an estimated 60,000 iodine resin devices and 300,000 bottles of iodine tablets were sold to U.S. civilians for water disinfection (24). In addition, iodine-based water purification systems are routinely used by the military, in international relief efforts, and by other government-sponsored programs. In this regard we have recently reported that excess iodine ingestion by American astronauts from water treated with iodine for purification in space resulted in a small transient rise in serum TSH values upon return to earth (25). Since 1998, the iodine has been removed from astronauts’ potable water by an anion exchange resin just before the water is consumed, and no rise in serum TSH values has been observed. It is probably inadvisable for pregnant women, individuals with a history or a strong family history of thyroid disease, especially autoimmune thyroid disease, or individuals residing in areas of endemic iodine deficiency to use iodine-based methods of water purification unless extremely careful monitoring of the iodine content is carried out. Any individual anticipating prolonged ingestion of excess amounts of iodine in medications or as a byproduct of a water purification system should see a physician for a baseline physical exam to exclude the presence of preexisting goiter and to measure thyroid function tests and serum thyroid antibody levels to rule out abnormalities. Repeat thyroid function tests should then be repeated at intervals until excess iodine ingestion is eliminated.

[R.B.]

This is an interesting paper on estimated Japanese iodine intake which ties in with another report I have seen.

"By combining information from dietary records, food surveys, urine iodine analysis (both spot and 24-hour samples) and seaweed iodine content, we estimate that the Japanese iodine intake--largely from seaweeds--averages 1,000-3,000 μg/day (1-3 mg/day)."
See below

The report also recognises that pre 1950 Japanese ate a lot more kelp (Kombu) "elders ate up to four times more than those under the age of 29" so their intake figures could have been significantly higher.

It is also recognised in the paper that intakes of iodine will vary considerably on a day to day basis, which is reflected in urine output. So on some days Japanese may be consuming many grams of iodine. "Urine iodine levels can increase from 100 μg/L to 30,000 μg/L in a single day and return to 100 μg/L within a couple of days, depending on seaweed intake [39]. This is somewhat expected when varying amounts and types of seaweeds are consumed on a day-to-day basis."

An analysis of studies of iodine in urine incontrovertibly shows the Japanese have much higher iodine levels than we do in the west, the data in the paper shows at least historically they had a much lower level of many western medical conditions.

It is also clear from the report that a variety of dietary seaweeds are very much part of the Japanese life, and that the seaweeds in food vary in iodine content for a wide variety of reasons.

The full paper is free and the implications are thought provoking, both in terms of recommended western daily recommended intake, and the use of iodine at higher intakes as a medicine to correct historic imbalances.


"Japanese health statistics linked to high seaweed intake

The Japanese are considered one of the world's longest living people, with an extraordinarily low rate of certain types of cancer. A major dietary difference that sets Japan apart from other countries is high iodine intake, with seaweeds the most common source. Here are some astonishing Japanese health statistics, which are possibly related to their high seaweed consumption and iodine intake:

-Japanese average life expectancy (83 years) is five years longer than US average life expectancy (78 years) [41].

-In 1999 the age-adjusted breast cancer mortality rate was three times higher in the US than in Japan [42].

-Ten years after arriving in the US (in 1991), the breast cancer incidence rate of immigrants from Japan increased from 20 per 100,000 to 30 per 100,000 [43].

-In 2002 the age-adjusted rate of prostate cancer in Japan was 12.6 per 100,000, while the US rate was almost ten times as high [44].

-Heart related deaths in men and women aged 35-74 years are much higher in the US (1,415 per 100,000) as they are in Japan (897 per 100,000) [45].

-In 2004, infant deaths were over twice as high in the US (6.8 per 1,000) as they were in Japan (2.8 per 1,000) [46]."


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3204293/


Assessment of Japanese iodine intake based on seaweed consumption in Japan: A literature-based analysis

Abstract

Japanese iodine intake from edible seaweeds is amongst the highest in the world. Predicting the type and amount of seaweed the Japanese consume is difficult due to day-to-day meal variation and dietary differences between generations and regions. In addition, iodine content varies considerably between seaweed species, with cooking and/or processing having an influence on iodine content. Due to all these factors, researchers frequently overestimate, or underestimate, Japanese iodine intake from seaweeds, which results in misleading and potentially dangerous diet and supplementation recommendations for people aiming to achieve the same health benefits seen by the Japanese. By combining information from dietary records, food surveys, urine iodine analysis (both spot and 24-hour samples) and seaweed iodine content, we estimate that the Japanese iodine intake--largely from seaweeds--averages 1,000-3,000 μg/day (1-3 mg/day).

[R.B.]

There is regular mention in literature on iodine of endemic coastal goitre in areas of high seaweed consumption.

I have finally found a paper, as against mentions of the issue. The paper is titled

ENDEMIC COAST GOITRE IN HOKKAIDO, JAPAN
By
Hoji Suzuki, Tadashi Higuchi, Kunio Sawa,
Sachiya Ohtaki and Yoshihiko Horiuchi.

The full version of the paper includes a photo of a patient with an 'enormous' goitre; this was a real and serious issue. Urinary excretion of over 20mg a day of iodine was seen in five patients. Kelp collection was a local industry, and it formed a significant part of the diet. As discussed kelp often contains large amounts of iodine.

Interestingly when they were taken into hospital and put on a low thyroid diet some patients had a regression of their goitre.

The paper seems to suggest that iodine was actively being taken up by the thyroid, so uptake by the transporters was not the issue.

But 74.5% responded to thyroid treatment - so it looks as if something was blocking the activity of the thyroid; the thought occurred was that too much iodine as is generally suggested or something else . . .

All of which raises some important questions as to high iodine supplementation protocols, especially when reports of negative effects of high intake of iodine are limited in number. Are the negative effects of high iodine under reported or was the goitre in this instance due to to other factors? Does high iodine lead to serious thyroid dysfunction and goitre. These are very fundamental questions.

The answer to this question may lie in the unexamined issue that Hokkaido is an island with active 'volcanic' activity, and it is reported that the fumaroles are a source of both significant fluoride emissions, and fluoride deposits. Were the local water supplies, or supplies / wells / springs of individual patients high in fluorine, whereas in contrast was the hospital on a different supply?

A paper cited earlier in this thread suggests that relatively modest amounts of fouride even in the presence of iodine at 1mg/l in the water can cause fluorosis and goitre.


The Island of Hokkaido is listed as a high fluoride area (viz over 1.5mg/l), in a report called;

Fluoride in groundwater:
Probability of occurrence of excessive concentration on global scale


which cites this paper looking at volcanic fumerole activity on Hokkaido (one the most active regions in Japan) which says interalia


Acid alteration in the fumarolic environment of Usu volcano,
Hokkaido, Japan
F. Africano*, A. Bernard

The fumarolic environment studied is very rich in
fluorine. Whole rock fluorine contents range from 1 to
5 wt%. Aluminum fluorides, which are rare in nature,
are commonly observed in this fumarolic environment.
In the presence of fluorine and in acidic conditions,
the dominant aqueous Al species are fluoride
complexes, even in the presence of significant
amounts of sulfates in solution. Fluorine enrichment
in the altered silicates and in silica incrustations indicates
that fluorine plays an important role in the alteration
of the primary minerals and in the mobilization of
silica into the aqueous phase.

I surmise this could lead to high amounts of fluoride in water, which might be localised. Interestingly I could not find anything on flourosis and Hokkaido. Is or was fluorosis a problem in Hokkaido?

A combination of a diet high in marine products and volcanic activity would suggest a better than average mineral intake. I wonder if high mineral availability is protective against fluorosis.

There is no information about selenium, and apparently kelp whilst containing some selenium is not a good source, but apparently volcanoes are a significant source of selenium

It appears that goitre is not seen in all coastal Japanese communities, which would add further weight to the possibility the high fluoride rather than iodine was responsible for the goitre.

This appears to be a community that ate marine foods, seaweed, was in area that was likely to be well mineralised, probably had adequate selenium intake, and yet there was a high level of goitre. Volcanic areas are often associated with goitre so could fluoride be the cause even in a generally well nourished community. Might there be other possible contributory factors.

Might mercury have had a contributory role in the goitre incidence? Mercury poisoning in cattle in 1955 from seed treated with mercury fungicide. http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110001075913 The goitre paper was written in 1965. Cranes local to Hokkaido were severely mercury contaminated. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17713219Mercury Mercury deposits are found under northeastern Hokkaido.http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/200.../#.UnV7t1N2FPI http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17713219 Mercury contamination of seafood in Japan reported as being at worrying levels.http://www.opsociety.org/issues/mercury-in-seafood Fumaroles may be a source of some mercury. Mercury contamination has been linked with thyroid dysfunction.

All of which raises very many questions, and most worrying of all, is fluoride sufficiently active in certain as yet unquantified circumstances to override even the effects of relatively high intakes of iodine ?

[R.B.]

More on the debate as to the requirements of humans for iodine; a paper I have just come across by Abraham whose later writing tends to be acerbic. He appears frustrated at the unwillingness of the wider medical establishment to engage with / consider the issue of iodine, and understandably so if he is right. Indeed the evidence increasingly seems to point to a greater need for iodine than is recognised in current dietary guidelines. Deficits will be exacerbated by the increasing impact of iodine blockers. The varied evidence of Japanese intake all points to intakes greater than 1mg a day and probably higher; the health of the Japanese would suggest that such intake levels are not inherently harmful and may confer significant health benefits.

I am aware that the UK advisory body is currently considering the issue of iodine intake.

It is interesting that the paper reports higher thyroid volumes in Ireland and Germany.

It is also interesting that Switzerland apparently adopted a doses of 3mg.

Some of the historical references are fascinating


Effect of daily ingestion of a tablet containing 5 mg iodine and 7.5 mg iodide as the potassium salt, for a period of 3 months, on the results of thyroid function tests and thyroid volume by ultrasonometry in ten euthyroid Caucasian women.

Guy E. Abraham M.D., Jorge D. Flechas M.D., and John C. Hakala R. Ph.

http://cypress.he.net/~bigmacnc/drflechas/IOD1.htm

"Considering the importance of this element for overall well-being, it is most amazing that no study so far has attempted to answer the very important question: What is the optimal amount of daily I intake that will result in the greatest levels of mental and physical well-being in the majority of a population with a minimum of negative effects?"

[R.B.]

A while ago I posted this link to a paper looking at the accumulation of iodine in various tissues in pigs.

http://www.vri.cz/docs/vetmed/46-6-153.pdf

A the moment I am wading my way through the 1000 pages plus of this not inexpensive text book on iodine http://books.google.com/books?id=7v7...iodine&f=false

I am again struck that the majority position still seems to be that most of the iodine in the body is found in the thyroid, despite the claims of some that this is not the case. I have not found any papers that definitively clarify this point.

From my reading I would suggest the relative proportions of iodide in the thyroid and wider tissue depends on the iodine intake status.

The linked paper Fig 3 and 4 clearly show that the amount of iodine in wider body tissue increases dramatically as intake increases; for example from a few micorgrams to in excess of 2mg per Kg in dorsal fat. For a 90kg pig, given the amounts of iodine found in other tissues based on the figures in the graph, the amount of iodine in a 90kg pig would mount up.

The amount in the thyroid at the highest intake is about 6 milligrams total, based on their figures.

The data in the above would suggest that at least in pigs where iodine intake is on the higher side, significantly more iodine will be found in the wider body tissues than the thyroid, which is what Venturi claims in the paper on the first page. The wider role of iodine in the body, and the examination of optimal requirements of tissues in addition to those of the thyroid may well result in the redefinition of the western guidelines on the optimal uptake of iodine.

The role of iodine / iodide / iodine in all its forms in many of the body's tissues including in female reproductive tissues remains to varying degrees to be clarified, and does not get much research funding because you cannot patent iodine, and iodine is very cheap in comparative terms. . .

[R.B.]

In the UK the Government recently asked the body responsible for setting national nutritional standards called SACN to look at iodine intake. In their consequent position statement (linked below) SACN declined to look at maternal iodine intake due to a lack of 'robust' evidence. There is a huge amount of non randomized control evidence (RCTs) as to the importance of iodine in development, and RCTs to look at the neurological impact of iodine deficits in pregnancy can never happen due to ethical implications. The refusal of SACN to look at the issue begs the question who is responsible. I put the issues below in questions to a director of NICE and Health for England (HFE) (UK health regulatory agencies) and made this delegate submission at a recent forum held by an excellent organization called the Westminster Forums. http://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/ (the size of allowed submissions is limited). Importantly there is growing evidence that nutrient deficiency in the first trimester may lead to irreversible sub-optimal brain formation, for example incomplete neuron migration. There is also some evidence that fundamental factors such as abstract thought, empathy, musicality and higher human function generally may be compromised, which factors help define our humanity. Motor and more basic function is less sensitive to degradation. In a resource pressured world higher human function arguably including empathy and abstract thought is of fundamental importantance to the avoidance of conflict.


SUBMISSION

Optimal neurological development including IQ is crucial to individuals, society, and nations. Cell development in common with all cellular function, indeed life itself, is nutrient dependent. Is Health for England (HFE) ultimately responsible for national dietary and consequent nutrient intake; if not who is?

SACN reports to HFE but appears to restrict considerations to specific nutrient issues where science is ‘robust’; who then is responsible for assessment of health risks relating to significant population insufficiencies, where ‘evidence’ of risk is ‘weak’ e.g. no RCTs, but the overview fairly compelling? Further who is tasked to design and implement corrective strategies for existing identified nutritional insufficiencies.

For example SACN’s ‘Position Statement’ on iodine intake during pregnancy stated “The Subgroup advised that without further evidence it would not be possible to carry out a robust review of the UK DRV ”; although it is widely accepted very low iodine causes cretinism, and significant if ‘non-robust’ evidence suggests mild to moderate iodine deficiency may, starting in the first trimester, incrementally increase risks of irreversible sub-optimal brain formation, lower IQ 5-10 points, impair abstract thought, and lower other life-chance related developmental outcomes. (Maternal thyroxin supplies early foetus needs. Hypothyroxinemia is commonly associated with low iodine.) Accumulating evidence indicates growing iodine insufficiencies in adolescent females and pregnant women . Low income arguably increases deficiency risks. Further, DHA , and vitamin D deficiencies inter alia, likely also incrementally irreversibly compromise brain structure and function; examples of insufficiency and its effects include:

• DHA – 500 mg daily after week 22 reduced low birth weight babies by 35%, and very early pre-term deliveries by 50% (par 2.32) 7
• Iodine – 85% of adolescent females in a Belfast sample (par 5.1.1) 7 and 61% of pregnant women were classed as iodine deficient (par 5.1.5.2) 7
• Vitamin D – 75-96% of pregnant women were vitamin D insufficient 12

Iodine and vitamin D insufficiencies present particular challenges; realistically population based intake normalisation is only achievable through fortification or supplementation:

• Vitamin D food sources are limited compared to sun exposure production, which in modern day life is limited. The problem is particularly acute in the dark skinned.
• Iodine is only found in significant amounts in marine and particularly estuarine foods including seaweeds. Dairy foods are the next best source, but primarily because of cattle supplementation rather than pasture content . Other food sources of iodine are limited. Use of iodised salt, and idophors as food-industry disinfectants are falling. Iodine is lost during food preparation and storage, complicating intake assessments. Significant amounts are lost during intensive exercise. Iodine is stored in fat, so likely a greater issue in the obese. Thyroid iodide uptake is inhibited by a wide range of increasingly common foods including brassicas, perchlorates, and competing halides (bromine and chlorine), which group can partially be mitigated by higher iodine intake. Other rising factors that decrease thyroid function include high fluoride, nitrates, PCBs, chlorination, lithium, smoking, and likely polyunsaturated fat imbalances and excesses.

DHA is also mainly found in marine food, but livestock DHA could be increased somewhat by appropriate intervention. Inattention to dietary needs of livestock leads to large falls in DHA content.

In summary evidence grows of UK population wide insufficiencies in fertile and pregnant females of inter alia Omega 3 DHA, vitamin D, and iodine. Realistically addressing increasing pre and post-natal neurodevelopmental national nutrient insufficiency risks of particular relevance to the disadvantaged, including crucially iodine, vitamin D, and DHA, in fertile and pregnant females, can only be achieved by food supplementation; this will require bringing together health agricultural and food sectors in a quest for optimal solutions; the question is by whom?


1. SACN position statement on iodine and health - February 2014 – par. 122 http://www.sacn.gov.uk/pdfs/sacn_pos...and_health.pdf
2. Comprehensive Handbook of Iodine: Nutritional, Biochemical, Pathological and Therapeutic Aspects - Victor R. Preedy, Gerard N. Burrow, Ronald Ross Watson - Academic Press, 17 Mar 2009 - Medical - 1334 pages – in part on line - multiple references e.g - (FYO I purchased a copy and have read it twice from cover to cover)
http://books.google.com/books?id=7v7...gnancy&f=false
3. Effect of inadequate iodine status in UK pregnant women on cognitive outcomes in their children: results from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) - Sarah C Bath PhD, Colin D Steer MSc, Prof Jean Golding FMedSci, Pauline Emmett PhD, Prof Margaret P Rayman DPhil, - The Lancet, Volume 382, Issue 9889, Pages 331 - 337, 27 July 2013 - http://www.thelancet.com/journals/la...436-5/abstract
4. Section IV - The Scientific Basis for the Elimination of Brain Damage due to Iodine Deficiency – F Delange and B S Hetzel - http://www.iccidd.org/cm_data/hetzel-e-section4.pdf
5. Mild iodine deficiency in pregnancy in Europe and its consequences for cognitive and psychomotor development of children: A review – Caroline Trumpff, Jean De Schepper, Jean Tafforeau, Herman Van Oyen,
Johan Vanderfaeillie, Stefanie Vandevijvere – J Trace Elem Med Biol (2013) - http://www.iccidd.org/cm_data/2013_T...evelopment.pdf
6. Chapter 20 - The Iodine Deficiency Disorders - Creswell J. Eastman, M.D Michael Zimmermann, M.D – Thyroid Disease Manager - http://www.thyroidmanager.org/chapte...ncy-disorders/
7. Benefits of Docosahexaenoic Acid, Folic Acid, Vitamin D and Iodine on Foetal and Infant Brain Development and Function Following Maternal Supplementation during Pregnancy and Lactation. - Nancy L. Morse - Nutrients. Jul 2012; 4(7): 799–840 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3407995/
8. Recommendations; UK 150mcg; WHO 250mcg; American Paediatrics 220 - 290mcg, Japan 3000mcg.
9. Dietary (n-3) Fatty Acids and Brain Development – Sheila M. Innis - J. Nutr. April 2007 vol. 137 no. 4 855-859
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/137/4/855.full
10. Omega-3 Fatty Acid Deficiency in Infants before Birth Identified Using a Randomized Trial of Maternal DHA
Supplementation in Pregnancy - Kelly A. Mulder, D. Janette King, Sheila M. Innis - LoS ONE 9(1): e83764. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0083764 - http://www.plosone.org/article/fetch...esentation=PDF
11. DHA Deficiency and Prefrontal Cortex Neuropathology in Recurrent Affective Disorders – Robert K McNamara - J Nutr. Apr 2010; 140(4): 864–868. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2838627/
12. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in pregnant women: a longitudinal study - Valerie A. Holmes, Maria S. Barnes, H. Denis Alexander, Peter McFaul and Julie M. W. Wallace - British Journal of Nutrition / Volume 102 / Issue 06 / September 2009, pp 876-881 http://journals.cambridge.org/action...07114509297236
13. Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy - still a public health issue. - McAree T1, Jacobs B, Manickavasagar T, Sivalokanathan S, Brennan L, Bassett P, Rainbow S, Blair M.- Matern Child Nutr. 2013 Jan;9(1):23-30. doi: 10.1111/mcn.12014.- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23230904
14. Vitamin D3 and brain development - D Eyles, J Brown, A Mackay-Sim, J McGrath, F Feron http://www.direct-ms.org/pdf/VitDGen...evelopment.pdf
15. Developmental vitamin D deficiency causes abnormal brain development. - Eyles DW, Feron F, Cui X, Kesby JP, Harms LH, Ko P, McGrath JJ, Burne TH. - Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2009 Dec; 34 Suppl 1:S247-57. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.04.015. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19500914
16. The geochemistry of iodine and its application to environmental strategies for reducing the risks from iodine deficiency disorders http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/10724/1/CR03057N.pdf
17. To refine and confirm the level of selenium and iodine supplementation for breeding ewes http://www.eblex.org.uk/wp/wp-conten...ort-190214.pdf
18. POLICY STATEMENT Iodine Deficiency, Pollutant Chemicals, and the Thyroid: New Information on an Old Problem – COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH – American Academy of Pediatrics - DOI: 10.1542/peds.2014-0900 ; originally published online May 26, 2014; Pediatrics http://pediatrics.aappublications.or....full.pdf+html
19. http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=53928 I am R.B.
20. Modern organic and broiler chickens sold for human consumption provide more energy from fat than protein. Wang Y, Lehane C, Ghebremeskel K, Crawford MA. - Public Health Nutr. 2010 Mar;13(3):400-8. doi: 10.1017/S1368980009991157. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19728900