OK, I’ve done a good bit of research (thank you for the links to get me started William), and have decided to try a basic iodine protocol for two main reasons:
1. My PSA is rising and it is only a matter of time before my doctor and healthcare provider will want to do major intervention with powerful drugs with nasty side effects, and/or physical cutting and hacking, again with nasty side effects. There seems to be some evidence that iodine supplementation at high levels can have a positive effect without long term side effects.
2. In the research info there was some good indication that once the body has absorbed as much iodine as it can, it will discard the excess through the kidneys and urinary tract. Since I have a well documented history of urinary tract infections, and iodine is well documented as an antibacterial agent, might the discarded iodine solve my UTI issues as well.
I’ll be following the same protocol that William says he’s following (William, let me know if I get something incorrect below), with a few minor changes. In reading about starting iodine supplementation it seems that as iodine displaces other elements, these displaced elements (toxins?) can create some problems like rashes, headaches, etc. The recommendation is that you slowly build up iodine intake over several months. Also in my research I ran across a couple of people that just jumped in with both feet and toughed it out. I’m an all or nothing type of person so I’ll be starting high. The recommendation is 6mg or less per day for the first week, adding an additional 6mg/day each week until you reach 100mg/day. I’m going to start at 50mg/day and move up from there to 100mg/day which seems to be where there is a solid measurable therapeutic effect. At 50mg/day it is said to take 6 months to reach iodine saturation but at 100mg/day it might only take 6-8 weeks. Things are rather fuzzy as there is really little actual objective research that I can find but lots of anecdotal evidence. Anyway, my goal is to get to the therapeutic level as fast as possible. If there are a few unpleasant side effects along the way, so be it.
Next, it appears that supplementation with several co-factors are critical to success. Again, not much in the way of objective peer reviewed research, but the anecdotal evidence is rather strong. I’ll be taking the following supplements:
50mg/day Iodine as 5% Lugol’s solution (split 25mg in morning butter drink & 25mg in water at main meal)
200mcg/day Selenium as L-Selenomethionine (at main meal)
400mg/day Magnesium as Magnesium Glycinate (at main meal)
2,000mg/day Vitamin C as Calcium Ascorbate Ester C (split morning and main meal)
100mg/day Riboflavin (B2) (at main meal)
500mg/day Niacin (B3) as inositol hexanicotinate (at main meal)
There are several forms of iodine and it appears that the body needs two different types to get full effect. The thyroid gland needs potassium iodide, but most other organs and cells need elemental iodine. There are two commercial sources for the appropriate mixture of these two forms of Iodine: Lugol’s Solution which is a liquid, and Iodoral which is a solid pill form of Lugol’s with the same proportions of elemental iodine to potassium iodide. There is a good bit of debate of which form is better and from what I can determine there is no clear winner. Some swear by Lugol’s and others Iodoral, but from a cost perspective old fashioned Lugol’s wins hand’s down at less than half the cost of Iodoral. I’ll be using Lugol’s.
It also seems that Lugol’s works better when the liquid it is mixed with is acidic. To accomplish this I’ll be adding a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to my morning drink with Lugol’s as well as some vinegar to the water with Lugol’s that I’ll be consuming with my daily afternoon meal.
The acidic water, magnesium, selenium, and high levels of Vit C seem to be critical to the success of the iodine protocol, at least from empirical and anecdotal evidence. The need for the B vitamins is less clear. Most people saw significant improvement without the B vitamins, but when they were added there was further improvement for some, especially those with Fibromyalgia. In my case, I’m going for the whole enchilada and leaving no stone unturned. I see little risk in adding the Bs and if the entire protocol with the B Vits gives me the best chance of improving my BPH and PSA levels then I’m going for it. At my age I don’t have a lot of time to waste.
I received my order of Lugol’s and the other supplements today so I’ll be starting this mad hatter adventure tomorrow morning. Will report as appropriate when something noteworthy happens or changes.
Lex
