fluoride (and other halogens) and thyroid problems

[Dynamique]

This is from a recent e-newsletter from Dr. Stephen Sinatra, an allopathic cardiologist. It seems pertinent to the fluoridated water discussion and other health issues.
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I’d like you to think back to your high school days for a moment, and picture your science classroom. Do you remember the Periodic Table of Elements on the wall? I hope so, because I want you to use that as a reference point as we talk about an emerging health epidemic in this country: hypothyroidism.

Millions of people have this form of thyroid disease, in which the thyroid gland is unable to produce an adequate amount of thyroid hormone—resulting in symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, depression, coarse skin, deepening of the voice, elevated cholesterol, and cold intolerance. Millions more suffer from subclinical hypothyroidism, meaning they experience the same symptoms despite having hormone levels that are still within the “normal” range.

What’s causing this? Quite simply, our diet and environment are limiting our ability to absorb iodine, a nutrient the thyroid gland can’t function without. Let’s go back to the Periodic Table, and I’ll explain why this is true.

Each column in the table includes elements with similar properties. Iodine is in the same group with fluorine, chlorine, and bromine, and together they comprise a family of elements known as halogens.

In a medical context, similar types of elements tend to attach themselves to the same receptor sites on cells—and this is where the problem occurs. Fluorine, chlorine, and bromine are more active than iodine, and therefore are quicker to occupy receptor sites in the thyroid gland when we come into contact with them. And do we ever come into contact with them!

Fluoride (a form of fluorine) is a chief ingredient in toothpaste and has been added to water supplies for years to help prevent tooth decay. It’s also recently been found in some green teas. Chlorine is a mainstay in swimming pools and spas. Bromides (forms of bromine) are common in household cleaners and are found in some bread products, including bagels.

If you’re having symptoms like those described above, the best way to find out if you have hypothyroidism is to ask your doctor for a test that measures thyroid-stimulating hormone, or TSH.

Many thyroid disorders—especially subclinical ones—respond to simple changes in diet and daily habits. These include eating more foods rich in much-needed iodine and minimizing circumstances that expose you to elements that prevent the iodine from being absorbed.

For starters, you may consider adding seaweed to your diet. Now, I know what you’re probably saying, and you’re not alone. Most Americans dislike the thought of eating seaweed. But it’s extremely rich in iodine. In Japan, where seaweed consumption is common, the prevalence of thyroid disease is much, much lower. No doubt this is attributable to the fact that the Japanese eat 30 times more iodine than we do here.

At the same time, think twice before jumping into a chlorinated pool or spa, and opt for fruit for breakfast or a midday snack instead of a bagel. Switch to a non-fluoride toothpaste. If you already have a thyroid concern, drink green tea in moderation.

Most of all, remember that this problem is preventable and that making relatively simple lifestyle changes will spare you significant future thyroid problems. And, as always, I hope that you’ll share this information with your family and friends to help them maintain optimum health as well.

[Sylph]

I wouldn't call Dr. Sinatra "allopathic" as he is firmly in the "integrated medicine" camp. He calls himself integrative, anyway, and sells supplements on his website.
Dr. Sinatra - Home Page
Here is a study re. fluoride and thyroid:
SpringerLink - Journal Article
Summary The increasing use of fluoride for prevention of dental caries poses the problem as to whether this halogen has antagonistic properties towards iodine, whereby it could hamper the success of iodine prophylaxis of endemic goitre. Review of the literature shows that some authors have found an inhibition by fluoride of various steps of thyroid hormone biosynthesis in animal experiments. By and large, the inhibition was only slight and it was elicited only with fluoride doses greatly in excess of those recommended for caries prevention. The inhibition was not consistently present and other authors could not confirm it in comparable experiments. There is no convincing evidence that fluoride produces true goitres with epithelial hyperplasia in experimental animals. There are some reports based on casual observations that fluoride is goitrogenic in man. On the other hand, several good studies with adequate exposed and control populations failed to detect any goitrogenic effect of fluoride in man. It is noteworthy in particular that fluoride does not potentiate the consequences of iodine deficiency in populations with a borderline or low iodine intake. Published data fail to support the view that fluoride, in doses recommended for caries prevention, adversely affects the thyroid.

[Dynamique]

Just about all of these medical people with newsletters are selling supplements and other health-related items. It is something to keep in mind when reading their info, as with anything else you hear or read. Yes, Dr. Sinatra has moved into the "integrated" camp, but he was trained as a "traditional" M.D. an still practices as an M.D.

What the study summarized below is saying is that fluoride in the usual dose does not cause goiters. Whoopie. What Sinatra is saying is that the halogens cause/contribute to subclinical hypothyroidism. The two assertions do not contradict each other, and both can be true.

I wouldn't call Dr. Sinatra "allopathic" as he is firmly in the "integrated medicine" camp. He calls himself integrative, anyway, and sells supplements on his website.
Dr. Sinatra - Home Page
Here is a study re. fluoride and thyroid:
SpringerLink - Journal Article
Summary The increasing use of fluoride for prevention of dental caries poses the problem as to whether this halogen has antagonistic properties towards iodine, whereby it could hamper the success of iodine prophylaxis of endemic goitre. Review of the literature shows that some authors have found an inhibition by fluoride of various steps of thyroid hormone biosynthesis in animal experiments. By and large, the inhibition was only slight and it was elicited only with fluoride doses greatly in excess of those recommended for caries prevention. The inhibition was not consistently present and other authors could not confirm it in comparable experiments. There is no convincing evidence that fluoride produces true goitres with epithelial hyperplasia in experimental animals. There are some reports based on casual observations that fluoride is goitrogenic in man. On the other hand, several good studies with adequate exposed and control populations failed to detect any goitrogenic effect of fluoride in man. It is noteworthy in particular that fluoride does not potentiate the consequences of iodine deficiency in populations with a borderline or low iodine intake. Published data fail to support the view that fluoride, in doses recommended for caries prevention, adversely affects the thyroid.