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Iodine as protection against breast cancer?

by ANCENASAN Admin on Dec 17, 2024

1. Iodine is a trace element that is not only required by the thyroid gland for the production of thyroid hormones, but is also highly absorbed by female mammary tissue. There it plays a role in the regulation of tissue growth and inflammation. As a result, iodine deficiency can lead to breast tissue disorders and increase the risk of breast diseases such as fibroadenomas (non-cancerous tumors), chronic breast pain, cysts and possibly breast cancer.

It is now known that iodine forms compounds with fats in the membranes of breast cells and forms so-called “iodine lactones”. These in turn can influence cell division and initiate the natural cell death (= apoptosis) of diseased or malignant cells. Iodine is also said to have an immunological influence on tumor tissue by stimulating the so-called Th1 pathway of T helper cells and thus supporting the body in attacking and destroying the tumor tissue.

During breastfeeding, the mammary glands are particularly “flooded” with iodine. Is this perhaps a reason why studies repeatedly show that the duration of breastfeeding has a positive influence on the risk of breast cancer?

2. The German Nutrition Society (DGE) recommends a minimum daily intake of 200 micrograms per day (higher values apply to pregnant and breastfeeding women). However, this information only relates to maintaining the health of the thyroid gland. The now scientifically proven need of other iodine-consuming organs (breast tissue, ovaries, prostate, adrenal glands, salivary glands, etc.) is not (!) taken into account.