Iodine is essential for prostate health. Unfortunately, iodine levels have fallen more than 50 percent in the U.S. over the last 40 years.

During this time period, we have also seen a sharp increase on the number of men diagnosed with prostate problems.

Iodine is required by all of the body’s endocrine glands — breasts, ovaries, uterus, thyroid, pancreas, and prostate — that secrete hormones. In fact, iodine concentrates in the glandular tissue, where it helps maintain the architecture of these vital tissues.

When there is adequate iodine, the glandular tissue appears normal.

But in early cases of iodine deficiency, glands begin to develop fluid-filled sacs called cysts.

If iodine deficiency continues, the cysts become nodular, meaning that the fluid in the sac has solidified.

Eventually, the glands go through a process called hyperplasia (a change in cell structure), which is a precursor to cancer. The final stage of iodine deficiency is cancer.

All of these stages of iodine deficiency can be halted, and sometimes reversed, with increased iodine intake.

While I have seen iodine get rid of cysts and nodules in all types of glandular tissue — the prostate included — the most dramatic effects occur in the thyroid and the breasts.

In the prostate, iodine therapy is more likely to stop further progression rather than reverse it.

Adequate iodine is vitally important to ensuring good prostate health.