Just found some super-critical info that explains why some people get Hashimoto's auto-immune thyroiditis, thyroid nodules, etc, on Lugol's.
My summary:
- Iodine stimulates thyroid hormone production.
- Thyroid hormones made from thyroglobulin + tyrosine, which then has iodine bound to it via TPO (thyroid peroxidase enzyme). TPO by-product is hydrogen peroxide.
- Hydrogen peroxide neutralised by glutathione, via glutathione peroxidase enzyme.
- Insufficient glutathione peroxidase = accumulation of highly damaging hydrogen peroxide. High levels of accumulated Hydrogen peroxide damages and or destroys thyroid gland cells and can result in thyroid nodules.
- In an effort to protect itself, body produces TPO /Tg antibodies to reduce amount of thyroid hormones being made, and/or, hydrogen peroxide alters TPO /possiby Tg so much that body no longer recognises TPO /Tg as a friendly host-protein and TPO enzyme /Tg is attacked because it appears to be a foreign substance. I think that TPO antibodies are probably destructive to the thyroid gland as well as to (obviously) TPO itself, ditto thyroglobulin.
The lack of T4 and T3 would show on blood tests as elevated TSH with inappropriately low T4/T3/ FT4/FT3.
The article here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gbUGdOWDUzCnWdt8Zqc4jFEi4HM6MMcc8F4Lk__NhIM/mobilebasic
(I think it's by Bill Thompson, but the article itself isn't signed, and if I try to go to the previous article, which is by Bll Thompson, I just get an invite to sign up to Google Drive.)
"Furthermore, within his own more recent research, Dr Guy Abraham has already completely explained the biochemical reasons for thyroid nodule formation whenever higher dose iodine is supplemented. Within the thyroid cell itself, thyroglobulin is normally converted to T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) via moderation by the thyroid peroxidase catalytic enzyme. This conversion process quite naturally produces hydrogen peroxide as a normal byproduct of reaction. But if glutathione peroxidase – a critical enzyme and anti-oxidant for the thyroid – is not present in the thyroid cell in appropriate amounts, then a dangerous build-up of hydrogen peroxide will occur within the thyroid cell itself. Excess hydrogen peroxide build-up further acts to change the nature of the thyroid peroxidase protein so that the immune system is unable to recognize it anymore as friendly host protein. As a consequence, the antibodies will attack and remove this “foreign” thyroid peroxidase enzyme so essential for T3 and T4 production in the body. The excess hydrogen peroxide builds up to unhealthy levels, which also tends to disrupt and destroy thyroid cells, with resulting thyroid nodule formation., within his own more recent research, Dr Guy Abraham has already completely explained the biochemical reasons for thyroid nodule formation whenever higher dose iodine is supplemented. Within the thyroid cell itself, thyroglobulin is normally converted to T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) via moderation by the thyroid peroxidase catalytic enzyme. This conversion process quite naturally produces hydrogen peroxide as a normal byproduct of reaction. But if glutathione peroxidase – a critical enzyme and anti-oxidant for the thyroid – is not present in the thyroid cell in appropriate amounts, then a dangerous build-up of hydrogen peroxide will occur within the thyroid cell itself. Excess hydrogen peroxide build-up further acts to change the nature of the thyroid peroxidase protein so that the immune system is unable to recognize it anymore as friendlhy host protein. As a consequence, the antibodies will attack and remove this “foreign” thyroid peroxidase enzyme so essential for T3 and T4 production in the body. The excess hydrogen peroxide builds up to unhealthy levels, which also tends to disrupt and destroy thyroid cells, with resulting thyroid nodule formation."
I hope this helps people who are concrned about Hashi's and Lugol's. I haven't done any fact-finding on this mechanism yet, because it seems to make sense that this is what's happening when people develop Hashi's from using iodosupplementation.
Other sites I've looked at, and forum posts all over the net, say that everyone's response to iodine is different, that some people who develop Hashi's unknowingly already had a degree of it prior to using Lugol's, or had another auto-immune disorder (allergies, R.A, Lupus, etc) which made them prone to developing it, some say they've been taking 50mg for 8 years with nothing but postive benefits and ne'er a hint of Hashi's, still others say that an elevated TSH always happens once you take iodine and that it's a transient "adjustment" effect which normalises after a period of time. Studies by Drs Abraham, Flechas, and Brownstein would seem to bear out that last statement.
Most everyone says that sufficient selenomethionine prevents Hashi's, but then I've seen forum posts elsewhere that say posters have still developed Hashi's despite religiously taking the companion nutrients daily (2x 500mg niacinamide [not flushing niacin], 200-400mcg selenium as selenomethionine, 400-600mg magnesium [not oxide], 2x 100mg B2, 2x1500mg Vit C as ascorbic acid, plus optional ALA, NAC, Milk Thistle) and the salt loading protocol.
From what I already know about thyroid function and physiology, I think this is the most likely explanation as to why an elevated TSH happens in the presence of iodosupplementation.
I think it's highly feasible that the raised TSH is in response to lowered T4 and T3 manufacture, which is brought about by an accumulation of hydrogen peroxide caused by poor glutathione peroxidase activity/levels damaging the thyroid peroxidase enzyme and/ or Tg.
The hydrogen peroxide and/or the TPO /Tg antibodies further damage the thyroid tissue, resulting in even less ability to make thyroid hormones, which would then go on to create a vicious circle of
- elevated TSH telling the thyroid to make more hormones
-»more Tg called upon to make thyroid hormones
- »more TPO called on to make thyroid hormones
- »more hydrogen peroxide produced by TPO action
- »more damage to TPO by hydrogen peroxide IF INADEQUATE GLUTATHIONE PEROXIDASE
-»poss damage to Tg
- »more TPO antibodies
-»poss Tg antibodies
- »more damage to thyroid gland tissue/cells from antibody activity
- »insufficient thyroid hormones for health
- »even more elevated TSH.
The author of the article says that the companion nutrients are enough to ensure that there is sufficient glutathione peroxidase enzyme floating about to activate glutathione. I think I'm going to be happier taking not only those, but also sulfur-high foods (a bit problematic, possibly, as I suspect I don't metabolise sulfur optimally) and the three amino acids that comprise glutathione - cysteine, glycine, and glutamine.
I also already take a Source Natural's product called Chem Defense, whuch is 1.7mg FMN, 120mcg molybdenum amino acid chelate, and 50mg reduced glutathione.
I'm not about to stop taking my Lugol's, because I've already lost the last ten years to breast cancer and if I'd known about iodine deficiency actively causing it, I might have avoided all that. I certainly don't want a repeat performance. On top of that, I want to resolve - or at least try to resolve - my hypothyroid and hypoadrenals, and all the attendant signs and symptoms that come with them.
Who knows? Maybe it will be the solution to my CFS/ME and FMS, too.
I live in hope!
My summary:
- Iodine stimulates thyroid hormone production.
- Thyroid hormones made from thyroglobulin + tyrosine, which then has iodine bound to it via TPO (thyroid peroxidase enzyme). TPO by-product is hydrogen peroxide.
- Hydrogen peroxide neutralised by glutathione, via glutathione peroxidase enzyme.
- Insufficient glutathione peroxidase = accumulation of highly damaging hydrogen peroxide. High levels of accumulated Hydrogen peroxide damages and or destroys thyroid gland cells and can result in thyroid nodules.
- In an effort to protect itself, body produces TPO /Tg antibodies to reduce amount of thyroid hormones being made, and/or, hydrogen peroxide alters TPO /possiby Tg so much that body no longer recognises TPO /Tg as a friendly host-protein and TPO enzyme /Tg is attacked because it appears to be a foreign substance. I think that TPO antibodies are probably destructive to the thyroid gland as well as to (obviously) TPO itself, ditto thyroglobulin.
The lack of T4 and T3 would show on blood tests as elevated TSH with inappropriately low T4/T3/ FT4/FT3.
The article here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gbUGdOWDUzCnWdt8Zqc4jFEi4HM6MMcc8F4Lk__NhIM/mobilebasic
(I think it's by Bill Thompson, but the article itself isn't signed, and if I try to go to the previous article, which is by Bll Thompson, I just get an invite to sign up to Google Drive.)
"Furthermore, within his own more recent research, Dr Guy Abraham has already completely explained the biochemical reasons for thyroid nodule formation whenever higher dose iodine is supplemented. Within the thyroid cell itself, thyroglobulin is normally converted to T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) via moderation by the thyroid peroxidase catalytic enzyme. This conversion process quite naturally produces hydrogen peroxide as a normal byproduct of reaction. But if glutathione peroxidase – a critical enzyme and anti-oxidant for the thyroid – is not present in the thyroid cell in appropriate amounts, then a dangerous build-up of hydrogen peroxide will occur within the thyroid cell itself. Excess hydrogen peroxide build-up further acts to change the nature of the thyroid peroxidase protein so that the immune system is unable to recognize it anymore as friendly host protein. As a consequence, the antibodies will attack and remove this “foreign” thyroid peroxidase enzyme so essential for T3 and T4 production in the body. The excess hydrogen peroxide builds up to unhealthy levels, which also tends to disrupt and destroy thyroid cells, with resulting thyroid nodule formation., within his own more recent research, Dr Guy Abraham has already completely explained the biochemical reasons for thyroid nodule formation whenever higher dose iodine is supplemented. Within the thyroid cell itself, thyroglobulin is normally converted to T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) via moderation by the thyroid peroxidase catalytic enzyme. This conversion process quite naturally produces hydrogen peroxide as a normal byproduct of reaction. But if glutathione peroxidase – a critical enzyme and anti-oxidant for the thyroid – is not present in the thyroid cell in appropriate amounts, then a dangerous build-up of hydrogen peroxide will occur within the thyroid cell itself. Excess hydrogen peroxide build-up further acts to change the nature of the thyroid peroxidase protein so that the immune system is unable to recognize it anymore as friendlhy host protein. As a consequence, the antibodies will attack and remove this “foreign” thyroid peroxidase enzyme so essential for T3 and T4 production in the body. The excess hydrogen peroxide builds up to unhealthy levels, which also tends to disrupt and destroy thyroid cells, with resulting thyroid nodule formation."
I hope this helps people who are concrned about Hashi's and Lugol's. I haven't done any fact-finding on this mechanism yet, because it seems to make sense that this is what's happening when people develop Hashi's from using iodosupplementation.
Other sites I've looked at, and forum posts all over the net, say that everyone's response to iodine is different, that some people who develop Hashi's unknowingly already had a degree of it prior to using Lugol's, or had another auto-immune disorder (allergies, R.A, Lupus, etc) which made them prone to developing it, some say they've been taking 50mg for 8 years with nothing but postive benefits and ne'er a hint of Hashi's, still others say that an elevated TSH always happens once you take iodine and that it's a transient "adjustment" effect which normalises after a period of time. Studies by Drs Abraham, Flechas, and Brownstein would seem to bear out that last statement.
Most everyone says that sufficient selenomethionine prevents Hashi's, but then I've seen forum posts elsewhere that say posters have still developed Hashi's despite religiously taking the companion nutrients daily (2x 500mg niacinamide [not flushing niacin], 200-400mcg selenium as selenomethionine, 400-600mg magnesium [not oxide], 2x 100mg B2, 2x1500mg Vit C as ascorbic acid, plus optional ALA, NAC, Milk Thistle) and the salt loading protocol.
From what I already know about thyroid function and physiology, I think this is the most likely explanation as to why an elevated TSH happens in the presence of iodosupplementation.
I think it's highly feasible that the raised TSH is in response to lowered T4 and T3 manufacture, which is brought about by an accumulation of hydrogen peroxide caused by poor glutathione peroxidase activity/levels damaging the thyroid peroxidase enzyme and/ or Tg.
The hydrogen peroxide and/or the TPO /Tg antibodies further damage the thyroid tissue, resulting in even less ability to make thyroid hormones, which would then go on to create a vicious circle of
- elevated TSH telling the thyroid to make more hormones
-»more Tg called upon to make thyroid hormones
- »more TPO called on to make thyroid hormones
- »more hydrogen peroxide produced by TPO action
- »more damage to TPO by hydrogen peroxide IF INADEQUATE GLUTATHIONE PEROXIDASE
-»poss damage to Tg
- »more TPO antibodies
-»poss Tg antibodies
- »more damage to thyroid gland tissue/cells from antibody activity
- »insufficient thyroid hormones for health
- »even more elevated TSH.
The author of the article says that the companion nutrients are enough to ensure that there is sufficient glutathione peroxidase enzyme floating about to activate glutathione. I think I'm going to be happier taking not only those, but also sulfur-high foods (a bit problematic, possibly, as I suspect I don't metabolise sulfur optimally) and the three amino acids that comprise glutathione - cysteine, glycine, and glutamine.
I also already take a Source Natural's product called Chem Defense, whuch is 1.7mg FMN, 120mcg molybdenum amino acid chelate, and 50mg reduced glutathione.
I'm not about to stop taking my Lugol's, because I've already lost the last ten years to breast cancer and if I'd known about iodine deficiency actively causing it, I might have avoided all that. I certainly don't want a repeat performance. On top of that, I want to resolve - or at least try to resolve - my hypothyroid and hypoadrenals, and all the attendant signs and symptoms that come with them.
Who knows? Maybe it will be the solution to my CFS/ME and FMS, too.
I live in hope!
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