Lugol's breast and iodine: are we neglecting one of the possible causes?

When a woman discovers a nodule in her breast, the first thought is inevitably fear. And it is right that it is so, because every nodule must always be evaluated by the doctor through the necessary checks. Ecography, mammography and, when indicated, biopsy remain fundamental and irreplaceable tools.
But there is a question that is rarely asked: why did the nodule form?

The medicine is very good at diagnosing diseases, but often devotes less attention to the possible causes that have favored them. And among these there is one that is still too little spoken: the deficiency of iodine. When appointing iodine, almost everyone immediately thinks of thyroid. In fact, this mineral is indispensable also for other organs and one of those that accumulates more is precisely the breast. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the breast concentrates large amounts of iodine, a clear sign that this element plays an important biological role.

In recent decades, numerous studies have shown that iodine deficiency can make breast tissue more sensitive to estrogen. This increased hormonal stimulation can facilitate the appearance of benign alterations such as cysts, fibrosis, nodules and cyclic breast pain. Of course it does not mean that all nodules are caused by the lack of iodine. That would be a simplistic conclusion. It means, however, that the shortage of this mineral could be one of the factors involved and that it deserves much more attention than it receives today. It is precisely from these observations that the interest for the solution of Lugol, a preparation known for almost two centuries and composed of molecular iodine and potassium iodide.

This difference is far from negligible.

The thyroid mainly uses iodide, while the breast tissue seems to benefit more from molecular iodine. Several researchers believe that it is precisely this form of exercising the most important effects on the breast. Laboratory research has shown very interesting results. Molecular iodine promotes the formation of iodolipids, substances that help protect cell membranes and contribute to the elimination of damaged cells through the normal apoptosis process. It also reduces the proliferation of several cell lines of breast cancer and changes the expression of some genes involved in cell growth. Of course, these are studies performed on cells or animal models and cannot be automatically transferred to man. However, they are an important scientific basis that justifies the growing interest in this mineral.

But what strikes even more are the clinical studies conducted on women with fibrocystic breast disease. In the 1970s and 1990s several researchers observed that the administration of molecular iodine was able to reduce breast pain and, in a significant percentage of patients, also the consistency of nodules and fibrosis. In some studies about seven out of ten women reported a marked improvement in symptoms. The doses used were generally between 3 and 6 milligrams of iodine per day, always under medical control. Animal studies also tell a very similar story. In rats fed with a poor diet of iodine appeared alterations of the breast tissue that tended to regress after the supplementation. These are data which, although not definitive, seem to indicate a precise direction.
Another question many ask about breast cancer.

It's important to be clear. To date, there is no evidence that Lugol can prevent breast cancer. However, there are numerous experimental researches that show how molecular iodine can slow the growth of cancer cells and promote programmed death. Some research groups are even considering its possible use as support for traditional oncological therapies. However, modern and large clinical studies will be needed before final conclusions are drawn. What we can say with reasonable certainty is that iodine continues to be one of the most underrated nutrients of modern medicine. It is considered almost exclusively a thyroid mineral, while scientific evidence shows that it also intervenes in the health of the breast, ovaries, prostate and many other tissues.

This does not mean that Lugol is a miracle cure or that it can replace medical therapies. It simply means that, in the face of a woman with motherly nodules, cysts or recurring mastalgia, perhaps it would be appropriate to ask herself even if her organism has a sufficient amount of iodine.

The most recent research, especially those conducted in the United States, seems to indicate a precise path. If these results are confirmed, we may find that iodine was much more important than we have believed so far and that its role in breast health has long been underestimated.