Sorry to insert this here since it only relates indirectly to the topic at hand, but I would be interested in your reaction to the following news item courtesy of TheStreet.com (TIA):

"AGIX - based on further analysis, the company believes the new class of drug, called AGI-1067, may be able to treat other indications."
"Although the formal primary composite endpoint in ARISE was not met, we believe that the trial generated strong evidence that the use of AGI-1067 will produce tangible clinical benefits for patients with coronary artery disease," said Marc Pfeffer, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and one of the principal investigators, said in a statement.
AGI-1067 is a drug with both anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity that the company is developing to prevent serious cardiovascular events in people at risk of heart disease.
The drug is the first of a new class of medicines called vascular protectants, which work by blocking the inflammatory process in atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances in the inner lining of an artery.
The trial, which involved 6,144 high-risk patients in four countries with unstable angina, or chest pain, who had suffered a heart attack.
The trial met some predefined secondary goals such as reducing by 19% the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack and stroke related to the build up of fatty plaque in the arteries.
Surprisingly, the drug also showed a beneficial effect on diabetes, yes - diabetes, reducing the risk of getting diabetes by 64% compared to a placebo.
Diabetes patients are at high risk of heart disease.
To repeat = "reducing the risk of getting diabetes by 64%". That's tremendous!
Chief Medical Officer Robert Scott said, "This gives us an opportunity to access both those markets."
Whether that will require additional clinical studies isn't clear.
AstraZeneca had agreed to pay AtheroGenics as much
as $1 billion for exclusive rights to the drug. Analysts had expected the drug to reach annual sales in excess of $1 billion if successfully launched.
AtheroGenics Chief Financial Officer Mark Colonnese said the company had the financial strength to bring the drug to market alone if necessary.
The company said that it will show the large data set to the Food and Drug Administration but that the results would require confirmation.
imo - If the FDA carefully looks again at the study, that same FDA might decide to give
a fast track to the Phase III trial."

Hi,
Sounds interesting. However, it sounds like it's still in the proprietary stage in which the manufacturer still keeps a lot of the particular close to the vest. We can only wait for more details on what this is, how it works, and whether it offers real benefits in real people, and at what price (monetary and otherwise).

Dr. Davis

Will all "old" heart attacks show up on EKG?  In other words, if the EKG is completely normal, can the existence of an "old" heart attack be ruled out?

Thanks!

Hi, Michelle-

No. Ekg's are kind of like judging a used car by its finish--it might look good on the surface, but beneath . . .

Dr. Davis,

I am curious to know if ECG results or a treadmill test results can vary for a asthamatic patient vs. him actually having a problem in his heart? Please suggest if in your experience ECG or treadmill test results have experienced a change for other reasons than blockages in the arteries.

Thanks
Kokil

Think of your EKG as just like buying a used car. Say I'm trying to sell you my 1999 Buick Century. It looks pretty good from the outside and I tell you that it has 70,000 miles and runs well. You ask to open the hood, look in the interior and take it out for a drive. I tell you no, you can't do that.

As a follower of your blog and TRP recommendations, which I am doing, I added a small iodine supplement in a kelp tablet.  I have low thyroid and take Armour thyroid everyday.  Just recently I have read different doctors saying that taking iodine makes low thyroid worse and should not be done.  Am I inhibiting the action of the medication by taking the kelp tab?

Jan

i was looking for (UI) urine iodine testing kit. i found the next line which didn't surprise me. the UI kit was priced,
" Price is set at 2 USD excluding postage and tax on delivery".
the web site adress.
http://www.il.mahidol.ac.th/eng/index.php/resources/test-kits.html
this is from Thailand Mahidol University.
it also sells test kit for iodine in the kitchen salt.
i can never imagine purchasing something in north america with 2bucks.

iodine test kit.
i just got mixed up. the us 2$ was the price for iodine in salt testing kit not the UI testing as i wrote earlier. can you please change the info? thanks.

Dr D.

Can you please give us a clue as to what happens to the unstable iodide?
Does it evaporate, or combine with some impurity to produce a non-absorbable form?

Curious Non chemistry major

After reading about iodine here, I started eating nori (dried seaweed). I don't know what catagory that puts me in, or how much iodine I am getting.

Jeanne

Jan--

That's an absurd and outdated notion.

It is true that initial supplementation yields a paradoxic increase in TSH that subsides over a few months. But iodine is essential for health.

Remember: Most physicians think supplements are stupid and a waste of money. If it came with a prescription and a good-looking representative, they would suddenly be prescribing it galore.

Hi, Mike--

See the Track Your Plaque Special Report, Does iodine deficiency contribute to plaque growth.

There is a graph that shows the degradation of iodine due to volatilization (evaporation). See it athttp://www.trackyourplaque.com/library/fl_03-017iodine.asp (open access).

Dr. Davis, I have been following this thread with interest.  After being on Synthroid for several years, I was switched to Armour Thyroid and had a bad experience with it. I decided to consult an endocrinologist rather than continue going to my PCP for my thyroid issues.  The endocrinologist DC'd the Armour, and put me back on Synthroid.  Told me  she was opposed to use of Armour and of Cytomel, and under no circumstances to take an Iodine supplement.  I have to say that I appear to be better off without the Armour, but my TSH has not come back down to an acceptable level yet--new dose increase today, so another wait for labs. I don't know what my next step should be, but in this area I am not confident enough of the facts or how they might apply to my situation to dose myself with Iodine.  It's not as clear-cut to me as the case for dosoing myself with Vitamin D.  If anyone knows of an open-minded Iodine-friendly physician in North Carolina, I would consult with her/him, but otherwise I would be afraid to do it.  I believe that some people have very bad reactions to Iodine, or is this misinformation?

What dose and type of supplement do you recommend, doc?

Re: Vanishing iodide.

Thanks for that Doc.
I presume keeping your salt stash in a a zip-loc bag in the refrigerator would lengthen its effective life.
I wonder if there is a problem with short lifetime on any of the supplement forms?
MikeV

PS What are the odds of rejuvenating aging (hypo)thyroid glands that have been successfully supplemented for many years?

PPS I truly appreciate your work in breaking down the blood-brain barrier between 'Medicine' and intelligent nutrition/prevention.

Hi, Mike--

Tightly storing iodized salt in an air-tight container would likely preserve iodine content.

To my knowledge, the degradation of iodine-containing supplements or medications has not been formally examined. But it is probably best to keep tightly closed in a cool place to be safe.

Jenny,

I think the bad reaction to iodine you refer to could have 2 origins.  There are people who are allergic to iodine and can have severe reactions to ingesting iodine. They don't eat shellfish and cannot have iodine dye injected for x-rays,etc.  Also, as I related to Dr.D in my post here, (see 1st post) recently I have read about drs saying patients should not take iodine if they have low thryroid because it will cause lower production of thyroid hormone.  Dr. D responded to my post here and like you, I wasn't sure about dosing myself. I will continue to take a small amount in an organic kelp tab, take my Armour thyroid everyday and get levels checked at appropriate intervals. My PCP is really only involved in testing my levels and working with me on rx meds. I make supplementation decisions based on my own research. Hard to find a dr who values an integrated approach.
Good luck!
Jan

jenny.
some times the problem with adrenal gland may  give bad experience with armour. adrenal have to be fixed first before armour can be given. and some times, it is just adrenal issue and not hypothyroid issue at all.
http://thyroid.about.com/od/drdavidderry/l/bl11.htm

also.
ALWAYS treat your adrenals first!
        If the adrenals are weak, replacing thyroid hormone first would most likely make a person feel much worse and may stir up 'hyperthyroid' symptoms bu increasing the metabolism and initiate an adrenal crisis. The adrenals must be strong enough to cope with the increase in metabolism. This is the most common mistake made in the medical management of these conditions.

http://www.livingnetwork.co.za/healingnetwork/adrenals_thyroid.html

from personal experience the supporting "B" vitamins and magnesium must be started first before starting on dessicated hormones. but it must be decided first that if you are truly hypothyroid?
when i started the thyroid hormones, it felt like starting up an old motor with different timing  belt. body, brain, heart and several other cells were going through adjustment of control and distribution of the energy. it took about 6 months or so for me to deiced the right dose and timing of vitamins, iodine and dessicated thyroid hormones. i felt that above dosing and timing can not be decided by a doctor. it is only the patient can figure it out with a learning curve. it is lots of work but believe me it is worth it.

jenny.
i forgot to add the list of suggested thyroid doctors in us and canada.
http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/

What do you think about Kelp and tyrosine in combination?

NOW has a thyroid supplement that combines these. What do you think?

http://www.bulknutrition.com/?products_id=1366

Hi Mike,

http://chem-eng.utoronto.ca/~diosady/sltstblty.html

here is a paper on the loss of Iodine from salt.  It compares Potassium Iodide to the Iodate with the latter being more stable at higher temps and in high humidity. The two environmental factors mentioned are key to degradation and loss of Iodine from the table salt.  Not only should you store your salt in a sealed container in refrigerator, but you should ensure the salt you buy is in a vapor barrier lined package so that it is in the best condition when you purchase it.
cheers
Trevor

Kelp warning?

http://www.curezone.com/faq/q.asp?a=13,281,2962&q=657

Researchers at the University of California/Davis found that eight out of nine kelp supplements contained abnormal levels of arsenic (Env. Health Perspectives, April, 2007).

Thanks for the info on the home testing kit...I live in Europe and it's sometimes hard to find these. I've been taking kelp (along with culinary practice) for iodine issues.

People should know that genetically susceptible individuals can give themselves graves disease by taking iodine supplements such as Lugols. While supplementation may be healthful for some people, it can really ruin your life if you happen to be one of them.

I am heartened by the number of respondents taking iodine in some form. After all, iodine is an essential trace mineral. Without it and health suffers, often dramatically.

Since I was diagnosed with hypothyroid disease, I started taking porcine thyroid supplements for my hormone deficiency. I feel energized now.