The Higher the Iodine Number

By Atom Bergstrom

Atom’s Blog

Re: Any other suggestions on healing hypothyroidism?

Sometimes less iodine is more iodine.

T4 is thyroxine. It contains four atoms of iodine — storage iodine.

T3 is triiodothyronine. It contains three atoms of iodine — working iodine.

T4 is a prohormone, and T3 is a hormone.

T3 is manufactured out of T4, mostly in the liver, but also in the kidneys and brain.

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What do most people associate with hypothyroidism?

Iodine. They’re often advised to take more iodine.

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According to Ray Peat …

“An iodine deficiency can cause hypothyroidism (rare now), but so can an excess. Most goiters now are from estrogen-like effects, but they used to be from iodine deficiency. Chronic excess iodine tends to cause thyroiditis, regardless of the gland’s size.

“The amounts used by [Guy E.] Abraham and [Jorge D.] Flechas are much larger than this – very toxic doses, enough to cause severe thyroid problems.”

According to the same source …

“Iodine reacts easily with toxic PUFA (omega-3 and -6 oils) to make antithyroid molecules.”

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Polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially highly unsaturated fatty acids (omega 3), corrupt iodine for their own use.

The Iodine Number is the number of grams of iodine absorbed by 100 grams of oil, fat, or wax.

As a general rule, the higher the Iodine Number, the more likely it is to cause Yellow Fat Disease (cumulative lipofuscinosis).

Age spots — in the skin, liver, heart, kidneys, brain, and iris of the eye — are symptoms of Yellow Fat Disease.

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According to “Iodine value,” Wikipedia (last updated Dec. 18, 2018) …

Coconut oil has an Iodine Number of 7 to 10.

In other words, 100 grams of coconut oil absorbs 7 to 10 grams of iodine.

100 grams of palm kernel oil absorbs 16 to 19 grams of iodine.

100 grams of palm oil absorbs 50 to 55 grams of iodine.

100 grams of butter absorbs 26 to 40 grams of iodine.

100 grams of olive oil absorbs 80 to 88 grams of iodine.

100 grams of peanut oil absorbs 84 to 106 grams of iodine.

100 grams of rice bran oil absorbs 95 to 108 grams of iodine.

100 grams of corn oil absorbs 109 to 133 grams of iodine.

100 grams of canola oil absorbs 110 to 126 grams of iodine.

100 grams of wheat germ oil absorbs 115 to 134 grams of iodine.

100 grams of soybean oil absorbs 120 to 136 grams of iodine.

100 grams of sunflower oil absorbs 118 to 144 grams of iodine.

100 grams of walnut oil absorbs 120 to 155 grams of iodine.

100 grams of grape seed oil absorbs 124 to 144 grams of iodine.

100 grams of linseed oil (flaxseed oil) absorbs 136 to 178 grams of iodine.

100 grams of cod liver oil absorbs 145 to 180 grams of iodine.

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Long story short, storing iodine without using it may not be your highest choice.
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