Dr. W.N. Kemp in the Canadian Medical Journal, October 1947

Edited roughly for formatting...


From the Canadian Medical Association Journal, 1948

210

CORRESPONDENCE L Cand.1M9 A. J.

CORRESPONDENCE

Iodine Deficiency Disease

To the Editor:

The article by Dr. W. N. Kemp, on "Iodine Deficiency

Disease"'in the Journal, October, 1947, is

most interesting.  

May I add thereto several observations made

on the problem of iodine deficiency in both

animals and humans. 

My observations of animals were

made in the Saskatchewan River basin, that is

the upper reaches of the old glacial Lake Agassiz.

My observation of the humans was made in Winnipeg

and in the Japanese Prison Camp at Angler, Ontario,

both fresh water areas, the former again in the

Agassiz Lake bottom.

Animal conditions in the Saskatchewan

River area in 1922 were as outlined by Dr. Kemp, in other Continental areas.

By 1927 the farmer had learned his

lesson the hard way and was rearing young stock to

supply his markets and power needs. I observed at

this time, that breeding stock on minute quantities

of iodide remained fatter and more well favoured than

stock which was not on iodides. Consequently in a

herd in which I was interested, I made iodides routine

in their care. It was noted that injuries such as

barbed wire cuts and collar galls on horses healed

more readily.

Of particular interest was the difference in effect

on cattle, sheep, hogs and horses of an iodine free

diet. Cattle and sheep were born with goitres, hogs

were born hairless and colts died in their first three

years, usually in their first six months of a condition

known as Joint and Navel Disease. This condition in

horses was to all appearances due to an organism said

to enter through the cord of the new born foal. This

idea may have had some foundation as the occasional

foal dropped on clean pasture survived.

In this same area the years 1939-41 proved to be encephalomyelitis years. 

My herd of horses seemed to have an immunity

for not until 1941 did the disease hit. Then a six

month old colt went down with it and to our surprise

recovered with a minimum of care and no medication.

The same summer a survey of the area proved no cases

of encephalomyelitis in horses on iodine routine.

I have since learned that the late R. A. McLoughry,

V.S.,of MacGregor, Man., was using iodine therapy in

his treatment of encephalomyelitis during the epidemic

years with some degree of success. His reports were

unfortunately not published due to his death.

A recent article published in the American Veterinary

Medical Journal of August, 1946, by R. D. Radeliff, V.S.

entitled "Sodium Iodine Therapy in Infectious Equine

Encephalomyelitis" reports that in his practice in

Texas he reduced the mortality rate among horses from

40 to 10% with no "dummies". He uses sodium iodide

intravenously,while Dr. R. A. McLoughry used potassium

iodide.

Observations made at Angler, Ont. on Japanese P.O.W.'s and guards alike were made following the introduction of potassium iodide to their drinking water in amounts calculated to double the amount available in iodized salt. I may here add that in my opinion

iodized salt is readily depleted of its iodine when left

in storage. Notations made here were, a general increasein

body weight and a remarkable absence of skin infections

in spite of the Japanese practice of burning the

skin with numerous mounds of leaf pith, as a counter

irritant.

It was also noted by the dental officer that

upper respiratory infections in this camp were practically

nil, while he averaged three patients a day with upper

respiratory infections in a camp of German P.O.W. 's

who were living under identical conditions but without

additional iodides.

During the five months of observations

we had three cases of influenza in the Angler Camp.

Observations made in Winnipeg showed that in 8

cases of mastoid involvement, in one month in the

Winnipeg General Hospital, none had used iodized salt

in the home; and secondly of 18 cases of polio in 1942

9 families did not use iodized salt, 5 did and 4 were

uncertain about salt used.

It is evident that because of the minute quantity of

iodine employed in cases cited that its medical value is

nil. It is my theory therefore that in some way the

iodine ion acts as a catalyst upon the normal defence

mechanism of the body, to increase the phagocytic

properties of the leukocytes or to act as an opsonin. It

is of interest to note that Dr. R. D. Radeliff in his article

came to a similar conclusion.

CONCLUSIONS

1. Minute quantities of iodine in the diet of pregnant

dams prevent goitre in lambs and calves, hairlessness

in new born pigs and joint and navel disease, apparently

a septicemic condition in colts.

2.Minute quantities of iodine in the diet of humans

prevent stillbirth, adds weight, promotes wound healing and

prevents skin infections.

3.Intravenous iodine will reduce the mortality rate

in encephalomyelitis in horses and in the diet appears

to prevent the same disease.

4. Iodized salt when long in storage is depleted of

its iodine content.

5. Iodine ions in the body act as a catalyst upon the

normal defence mechanisms.

6. Further experimental observations should prove of

value.

 J. F. EDWARD, M.D.

REFERENCES

1. Canad. AI. A. J., 57: October, 1947.

2. Am.Veterinary M. J., August, 1946.

615 Medical Arts Bldg.,

Winnipeg,Man.

Is there a role for Iodine in Breast Diseases?

Thank you to Dr. Venturi for permission to post his work here!

Disappearing Iodine Skin Test

Dr. Derry answers a question about the commonly sited but rather useless "test" for iodine sufficiency.

 He also explains some interesting facts about iodine usage.

http://thyroid.about.com/library/derry/bl2a.htm

Review: "Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It"

Hi Folks.  I recently finished reading one of Dr. David Brownstein's books, Iodine: Why You Need It Why You Can't Live Without It 4th ed.  I would like to give a review.

Dr. Brownstein's book on iodine is a comprehensive source for solid, referenced information on the subject.  The format of the book makes it easy to read.  It has wide spaces between the lines, larger font, and frequently refers back to parts of the book already covered, which makes it easy to follow for those suffering brain-fog.

I did get the distinct impression that each of the chapters were written as stand-alone articles.  There are a few discontinuities, such as information in the FAQ section not being referred to in the index.

The editing and indexing are not great, and if I were asked for suggestions, this would be the one big one.  I actually pencilled a few things into the index of my book so I could look them up later!

Otherwise, this is a book I would highly recommend to anyone investigating health issues, including medical professionals.  It tackles and dispels many of the fallacies surrounding iodine, as well as giving history and uses.  It gives a thorough explanation of the science behind iodine use in the body.

It is available from Medical Alternatives Press.

Are you Deficient?

Dr. Brownstein tells us that 95% of the patients he tested, are deficient!

http://www.oasisadvancedwellness.com/learning/iodine-deficiency-under-recognized-epidemic.html

Iodine and Breast Cancer

Lynne Farrow has graciously given me permission to post this abstract, and its lay-person's translation, to my blog.  This is copywritten material!

Lynne is the Director of Breast Cancer Choices (which I fully intended to add to the links...but hadn't got there yet).

As you read this article, please keep in mind the short duration of the study, and just what iodine appeared to do in such a short period of time!


 Reposted from breastcancerthinktank with permission-- Lynne Farrow

 
Below is an article I've been asked to explain in plain English. It bears repeating because people are wondering how one element can possibly produce several mechanisms of action -- in human beings. Researchers looked at human tissue of live patients in the below study. (Other studies have looked at how iodine altered gene expression. )


*There were two groups of breast cancer patients designated between biopsy and surgery. One group was given a placebo. The other group was given iodine in a small amount because the researchers were afraid of iodine's theoretical effect on the thyroid. The tissue was removed from both groups at surgery (either lumpectomy or mastectomy) and compared.
 
The iodine-takers' tissue was profoundly different than the non takers.
 
To summarize the most important points:
 
(1) the cancer cells were dividing much more slowly in the iodine takers than in the placebo group.
 
(2) Apoptosis --natural programmed cell death which you want-- increased in the iodine takers.
 
(3) Vascularization was diminished in the iodine takers. Meaning blood vessels which would enable the tumor to grow and/or spread were significantly reduced. (This means iodine was working as an "angiogenesis inhibitor.")  Remember all those anti-angiogenesis drugs the late Dr. Judah Folkman worked on for 45 years?
  http://www.childrenshospital.org/research/Site2029/mainpageS2029P53sublevel41.html
 
(4) VEGF, a chemical which promotes growth, was reduced.
  
--------------------------ACTUAL SUMMARY-----------
 *
Presented at San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2008:
 
[3082] The antineoplasic effect of molecular iodine on human mammary cancer involves the activation of apoptotic pathways and the inhibition of angiogenesis.

Vega-Riveroll L, Mondragón P, Rojas-Aguirre J, Romero-Romo J, Delgado G, Aceves C Instituto de Neurobiologia, Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico; Hospital Regional #3 del IMSS, Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico; Hospital General de Queretaro, Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignant neoplasia in women. One factor thought to influence the incidence of breast cancer is diet. Japanese women, who have a high dietary intake of iodine (5280 vs 209 g/day in western population) due to ingestion of seaweed, have the lowest incidence of breast cancer in the world. In normal mammary gland, iodine deficiency is involved in dysplasias, which are reversible with I2 but not with iodide administration. Recent data generated in our laboratory showed that continuous treatment with I2, but not iodide, has a potent antineoplastic effect on tumoral progression in N-methyl-N-nitrosou rea-treated virgin rats (50-70%). Also I2 treatment in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, but not in normal mammary cells (MCF-12F), shows a significant apoptotic effect induced by activation of Bax-caspases and AIF-PARP-1 pathways. Based on these findings, a study of women diagnosed with cancer (mammography and tru-cut biopsy) was
 initiated. Patients were divided into placebo or I2 (5 mg/day) groups for 2 to 5 weeks before surgery. One day before beginning the I2 treatment and the day of the surgery, urine and blood samples were collected. The day before surgery, a second mammography was obtained. In the tumor samples proliferation (PCNA), apoptosis (TUNEL), and vasculature area (CD-31) were analyzed by immunohistochemistr y. Bax, Bcl2, p53, and VEGF proteins were analyzed by Western blot. Circulating TSH and T3 levels were measured by RIA and urinary iodide by HPLC. The results showed that although tumor size did not differ between groups, a significantly lower proliferation and increased apoptotic rate were observed in tumors from women supplemented with iodine. In these tumors the ratio Bax/Bcl2 increased, p53 levels were unchanged, and VEGF levels and vasculature area diminished significantly.
 
  Serum TSH and T3 showed no changes in any group, indicating that I2 treatment had not compromised the thyroid status. We propose that I2 supplements should be considered for use in clinical trials of breast cancer therapies. We thank Dr. Jorge lvarez-Aguirre2,3, Dr. Alonso Gallegos-Corona2, Lic. Concepcin Correa-Tinajero3, Alejandro Nez-Nolasco2,3, and Silvia Serrato-guila2. This work was partially supported by: PAPIIT-UNAM IN201207, and CONACyT 44976-M and 85952.
Friday, December 12, 2008 5:00 PM

Poster Session III: Tumor Cell and Molecular Biology: Novel / Emerging Therapeutic Targets (5:00 PM-7:00 PM)