A-Z metabolic support Articles

Iodine is a trace mineral that is essential in the human body. It is used in several different processes in your body, the most important of which is the production of thyroid hormone. Iodine has also been used throughout the past for cleaning wounds and purifying drinking water. Some more recent research has shown iodine supplements to be beneficial in the treatment of fibrocystic breast disease as well.

Understanding Thyroid Health & Iodine Supplements Benefits

Thyroid Hormone and Metabolism

The thyroid gland is located in the neck and is the master gland controlling our metabolism and metabolic rate. One of the major building blocks of thyroid hormone is iodine.

Your thyroid gland needs this mineral to manufacture optimum levels of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothryonine (T3). These hormones, made from iodine and the amino acid tyrosine, regulate your body's overall metabolism and also play a regulating role for other hormones produced by the body.

Thyroid and Goiters – Iodine Deficiency

There are regions of North America where iodine is lacking in the soil (and thus the diet) that are referred to as the "goiter belt" because of the high incidence of goiters. Goiter is the medical term used to describe the bulge in the neck created when the thyroid enlarges from overstimulation. Iodine deficiency causes insufficient thyroid hormone, which is a condition called "hypothyroidism". This occurs when the thyroid is unable to make sufficient thyroid hormone, and the pituitary gland sends greater and greater stimulatory signals (TSH), trying to boost production. This causes the thyroid to enlarge in an attempt to meet the needs of the body. The symptoms of hypothyroidism appear as weight gain, low energy, poor concentration (brain fog), hair loss, depression, blood sugar fluctuations and other symptoms.

Radioactive Iodine & Nuclear Events

Following a radiological or nuclear event, radioactive iodine is released into the air, and taken up through our lungs when we breathe. It can also contaminate local food supply and water supply and be ingested. Once present in the body, the thyroid gland will begin to rapidly absorb it/take it up. Potassium iodide competes with radioactive iodine at receptor sites. It fills these sites and prevents the thyroid from taking up any of the radioactive substance. Its action at these receptor sites lasts 24 hours, meaning the thyroid is unable to take up any iodine – stable or radioactive – during that time. It is important to understand that potassium iodide does not protect the body as a whole from radioactive iodine, nor does it prevent any other body part from taking it up. Its actions are very specific to the thyroid. A one-time dose of potassium iodide is usually all that is recommended. If there is a threat that radioactive iodine will be in the environment for longer than 24 hours, public health officials may inform the public to take the supplement for a few days in a row. Please ask the advice of your local healthcare practitioner or public health agency.

Fibrocystic Breasts

Fibrocystic breast tissue is caused by hormonal changes in the body resulting in dense regions of breast tissue that change throughout the menstrual cycle. These dense pockets can often make performing self-breast-examinations more difficult, and often create false fear, where none is needed. Taking iodine has been shown in some instances to help reduce the signs and symptoms of fibrocystic breast syndrome.

Shopping For Quality Iodine Supplements

Topical Use

Iodine has been used for hundreds of years to prevent and treat infections from minor scrapes and cuts in the skin. When applied to the skin, it can kill the bacteria that cause infections. Liquid iodine can be applied to wounds as needed to help keep them clean. Some research has found success in using iodine to treat diabetic foot ulcers.

Dietary Iodine

Iodine has become so difficult to get into the diet that staple foods like table salt are now enriched with iodine. In the case of iodized salt, the inorganic form of iodine is added. Natural, organic sources, such as those derived from seaweeds are much more absorbable and easier for the thyroid gland to use than the inorganic (mined) sources used to enrich foods.

Supplementing Iodine

Potassium iodide is a common supplemental and medicinal form of iodine because it is stable. In a supplement form, iodine is usually derived from natural seaweed sources and is available in both liquid and capsule or tablet, forms. The standardized types of these supplements contain a higher level of iodine and a consistent amount in each tablet – usually about 150mcg (0.15mg). This is the preferred form for clinical use in low thyroid conditions, while the unstandardized kelp is suitable for people in need of a daily supplement without an underlying condition.

The liver is a large organ located just below the diaphragm on the upper right side of the abdomen. It holds a central function in the body and has an incredible number of tasks which include, but aren't limited to: breaking down and removing toxins from the blood, creating and releasing bile for digestion, and receiving and transporting fats and cholesterol around the body. Let's explore liver extract and its benefits for good health. 

Discovering Liver Extract

Although the liver is technically an organ and not a gland, we are listing it amongst the glandular extracts because it is being used in the same manner to treat the body. The liver is full of enzymes, nutrients, cofactors, as well as a litany of other substances. When animal liver extract is ingested, it provides the body with all of these nutrients, giving the liver extra support in its function.

Tips On Taking Liver Extract Supplements

Liver extract can be found in a variety of combination formulas including other liver support herbs and nutrients. It can also be found in several detoxification formulas as extra nutritional support for the liver during a cleanse. This use has gone down in recent years because of restrictions on sales, and the risk of actual contamination due to storage of toxins in the animal's liver before processing.

Important Information & Potential Side Effects

Because the liver is responsible for so much of the body's detoxification, it often contains a high level of contaminants. Because of this, it is very important to only ingest liver extracts from safe, sources with well-studied contamination levels to avoid the ingestion of heavy metals and other contaminants.

Pantethine is a precursor for the synthesis of coenzyme A, one of the most biologically involved metabolic enzymes in the human body. It is essential for the process of fatty acid degradation, playing a significant role in regulating cholesterol levels.

Pantethine's Key Health Benefits

Cholesterol Support

Studies have shown pantethine is effective in lowering both LDL and total cholesterol, as well as triglycerides, an effect that the related Pantethenic Acid form cannot demonstrate. Coenzyme A is also necessary for the production of a variety of hormones and neurotransmitters, and the activation of white blood cells for immune support.

Stress Support

Pantethine, being integral in the production of Coenzyme A, can help combat stress and is often found in combination with herbs that offer adrenal support. The exact mechanism as to how pantethine exerts these effects is still unclear. Pantethine deficiency may cause a severe decrease in energy and poor nervous system functioning.

Foods Rich in Pantethine

Pantethine is found in mushrooms, avocados, eggs and lentils, or can be taken in supplement form.
Be sure to look for a supplement showing pantethine and not pantethenic acid, as this acid form does not have the same cholesterol-lowering effects.

Pantethine Supplement Varieties

For stress relief and overall health, a dosage of 100-300 mg/day is adequate. To achieve the cholesterol-lowering effects of pantethine, dosages between 600-1200 mg/day are recommended.

What Is Niacinamide?

Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is a water-soluble vitamin much like niacin but with a different chemical group attached. Although it can function as a vitamin in the body much like niacin, because of the additional group, niacinamide does not cause a niacin "flush" response, but it also does not reduce cholesterol or provide the benefits given by the flush response. It is sometimes referred to as "no-flush niacin", although it should not be confused with inositol hexaniacinate (IHN), which is also given this title.

Key Health Benefits of Niacinamide

Niacinamide is supplemented to prevent niacin deficiency without causing the flushing side effect of niacin supplementation. This form of vitamin B3 is easily converted in the body to NADH, a molecule involved in energy production in our cells. Thus, niacinamide can have the same metabolic, nervous system, and mental health benefits as regular niacin without causing discomfort with supplementation. This form of vitamin B3 has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory actions that may benefit those with inflammatory skin conditions.

Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Benefits

Niacinamide has been used topically to treat inflammatory skin conditions such as acne vulgaris and rosacea. Studies have shown that topical application of 4% niacinamide gel was more effective at treating acne vulgaris than antibiotic cream. It has also been shown to improve skin barrier function in rosacea sufferers, allowing them to become less sensitive to topical irritants such as soap and detergents. This vitamin is also currently being studied for its potential ability to increase skin hydration and help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. More research is required but preliminary results look promising.

Metabolism

Niacin and niacinamide are involved in a number of different metabolic processes in the body, and they even play a part in the production of stomach acid and bile for the initial digestion of food. Vitamin B3 affects blood sugar by acting as a component of glucose tolerance factor, one of the blood-sugar regulatory molecules in the body. In this way, it can act as a therapeutic agent for diabetes. It also helps with the digestion of fats, carbohydrates, and protein because niacinamide is converted to NADH in the body. NADH increases the rate of chemical reactions in the body and helps to repair damaged DNA.

Nervous System and Mental Health

Vitamin B3 is an important vitamin for the proper functioning of the nervous system, and has been well researched for its ability to improve the outcomes of mental illness, such as schizophrenia. It has also been used to help treat depression and anxiety.

Niacinamide Vs Niacin

Although both molecules are different versions of the same vitamin known as B3, niacinamide does not have the cholesterol-lowering or allergy inhibiting properties of niacin. These effects are the result of the conversion of niacin in the body, and do not occur when niacinamide is converted. Also, niacinamide has been shown to be toxic to the liver in much smaller doses than niacin or IHN. It has been shown to be liver toxic at doses as low as 3g per day.

Symptoms of Niacin Deficiency

Niacin deficiency is known as "pellagra", which often appears with symptoms of: diarrhea, dementia, dermatitis, and eventually results in death ("the 4 D's"). It can also cause swollen tongue, an enlarged heart, and extreme sensitivity to sunlight. Because it can act as niacin in the metabolic pathways of our bodies, supplementation of niacinamide can help protect against niacin deficiency.

Taking Niacinamide Supplements

In general, it is always a good idea to take B vitamins in a B complex, as they all work together in the body. Niacinamide can be found alone, and is sometimes referred to as "no-flush" or "flush-free" niacin. It can sometimes be found in B complex formulas as a non-flushing alternative for health benefits such as improved mental health and increased metabolism. It is useful for supplementation in individuals who cannot tolerate the flush response of regular niacin. The dosage recommendations for niacinamide vary widely depending on the application. Daily supplementation for general health is usually suggested at between 40 and 300mg of niacinamide per day. Doses of 3000mg (3g) or more per day have been associated with liver toxicity. Because of this, high dose oral supplementation of niacinamide is not recommended. Niacinamide can also be found in topical preparations for inflammatory skin conditions. The research in this area is new, but suggests that a 4% niacinamide gel applied topically has benefits for these conditions.

Important Information

The elderly and those with impaired digestion are particularly prone to deficiency of B vitamins in general, so it is often a good idea to supplement with a B complex in these individuals. Niacinamide does not have the same cardiovascular benefits as niacin. Use regular niacin instead for these conditions. Time-release forms of B3 may increase the risk of liver toxicity. Do not crush or break tablets. Caution should be used when supplementing niacinamide if you have a stomach ulcer, active bleeding, or liver or kidney disease. Vitamin B3 should not be used by pregnant or nursing mothers as it may cause harm to the baby. Vitamin B3 can interact with: blood thinners, blood pressure, and heart medications, sleeping pills, estrogen, alcohol and sulfonamide antibiotics.

Niacin Toxicity

Immediate toxicity of niacinamide will be slightly different from niacin, as it does not have the same flushing properties. It can appear as nausea, dizziness, palpitations, high blood sugar, and vomiting. It is important to note that high doses of niacinamide have been associated with liver toxicity. Doses exceeding 500mg per day are not recommended.