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About the Iodine Supplementation Protocol Not Just For Breast Cancer Patients Physicians Guy Abraham, MD, David Brownstein, MD, and Jorge Flechas, MD, have treated more than 4,000 patients with iodine supplementation. The protocol below is suggested by their writings and lectures. We acknowledge with great appreciation their pioneering research and generous contributions to the field of Iodine Therapy. See references below the protocol.
The Iodine specialists have recently discovered it is essential to have the 24 Hour Iodine Loading Test before implementing iodine supplementation in order to investigate the presence of a possible iodine absorption defect. If a patient has a normal or high Loading Test score in the presence of known iodine deficiency condition such as breast or thyroid disease, a defect in the Sodium Iodide Symporter (NIS) mechanism is suspected. The iodine taken during the loading test may pass into the urine unabsorbed giving a false normal reading. Follow your physician's iodine dosing carefully to see how the iodine test result changes.
Important: The following protocol should be implemented only under your doctor's supervision and monitored with the appropriate laboratory work and thyroid studies. Report any side effects to your physician. Do not take iodine if you are allergic to iodized salt. Iodine Supplementation Protocol with Companion Nutrients Update: from October 2007 Iodine Conference
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Salt Loading Protocol for Possible Bromide Side Effects Orthoiodosupplementation induced and increased mobilization of bromine from storage sites, with increased urinary excretion of bromide. --Guy Abraham, MD Certain iodine-literate doctors feel the bromide excreted by iodine therapy can be eliminated more efficiently by the chloride present in mineral-rich Celtic salt. The salt is added to water in a specific way. Eating salty food is not effective. Table salt is only used in an emergency. Some members of the Amazon discussion group have found the Salt Loading Protocol devised by Dr. William Shevin (and presented at the February '07 Iodine Conference) to be effective in eliminating the side effects such as bromide sedation, acne, brain fog, brassy taste, mouth sores, frontal headache or other symptoms which occur in a small percentage of patients.
* Pulse dosing of iodine has often helped our participants with detox symptoms: taking a two day break from iodine supplementation as needed seems to enhance the kidneys' ability to excrete bromide. These are only our observations as educated patients. Consult your own physician about your particular iodine regimen. No consensus exists on how important the salt loading may be to an iodine therapy strategy if the patient does not have adverse symptoms. Be sure to ask your doctor before implementing salt loading or any medical strategy. References: 1. Brownstein, Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It, (Second Edition) Medical Alternative Press, West Bloomfield, MI 2006. See drbrownstein.com. 2. Abraham, GE, The Historical Background of the Iodine Project, The Original Internist 2005 3. Abraham, GE, Iodine Supplementation Markedly Increases Urinary Excretion of Fluoride and Bromide, Townsend Letter 2003 4. Abraham, G.E., Brownstein, D., Evidence that the administration of Vitamin C improves a defective cellular transport mechanism for iodine: A case report. The Original Internist, 12(3):125- 130, 2005 [excerpt] Elevated bromide levels were observed in urine and serum samples, twenty times the levels reported in the literature in normal subjects(8,9). Mild bromism may have been the cause of the oxidative damage to the iodine transport system and the side effects to orthoiodosupplementation. Chloride competes with bromide at the renal level and increases the renal clearance of bromide (10,11). Sodium chloride at 10 gm/day for one week resulted in marked increase in urine bromide levels, and a sharp drop in serum bromide. While on the chloride load, urinary frequency improves for the first time in 5 years, but fatigue worsened and she experienced facial and body acne. No significant change in symptomatology was observed while on Vitamin C. The responses of her symptoms to various treatments modalities by self- assessment are summarized in Table I. The treatment modalities are cumulative and added sequentially in the patient's management. Measurements of serum and urine bromide and iodide levels reported in this manuscript were performed by ion-selective electrode assay, following chromatography on strong anion exchanger cartridges, as previously described (3,7). The statements above have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. The supplements discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Do not take iodine without the supervision of an Iodine-Literate Doctor who is qualified to interpret lab work in the context of supplementation. This website is intended as information only. The editors of this site are not medically-trained. Please consult your licensed health care practitioner before implementing any health strategy. The information provided on this site is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her existing physician. This site accepts no advertising. The contents of this site are copyrighted 2006, 2007 by Breast Cancer Choices, Inc. Contact us for reprint permission. Web page updated May 10, 2008 |