Iodo-Niacin research

I am doing an internet research of the medical effects of Iodo-Niacin. Supposedly it can reverse plaque build up in arteries. Also it can clear up floaters in the eyes. The earliest tests were done in the 50s, but seemingly nobody followed up, for some strange reason. Now assuming that the tests were correct, the possible reasons could be that it is not patentable, thus the big money is not there for Big Pharma if anyone else can make it.

Here is a copy of the filing:

http://www.trademarks411.com/marks/71666440-iodo-niacin

I will be posting links and observations. There is a reference to a 30 years old study by 2 opthalmologists, but all references lead back to this website:

http://tahomaclinicblog.com/iodide/

The relevant part:

"Over 30 years ago, two ophthalmologists observed that a combination tablet called “Iodo-niacin” (iodide 120 milligrams, niacin 15 milligrams) taken for several months could actually reverse atherosclerotic clogging of arteries. They proved this effect by taking pictures of clogged arteries in the backs of the eyes (“retinal photomicrographs”) before and after treatment. The published photographs showed a significant lessening of the cholesterol-laden artery clogging in the “after” pictures."

Historical look at iodine's discovery and usage:

http://privyinfo.org/iodine.html

 

Log in or Sign up to hide all adverts.

Maybe they found similar resolution in cholesterol emboli in retinal arterioles after no treatment... ie the observations were the natural history, rather than due to the intervention.
I'll see if I can find the original articles and discover the methodology.

Addn - That blog post by Dr Wright is pretty appalling. A mix of high school science, basic medicine, and witch doctor logic (a strawman example might be 'they're better now, so obviously the bat-blood enema did the trick!')

 

Log in or Sign up to hide all adverts.

He might be referring to a 1956 article in the Journal of Ophthalmology:
Use of iodo-niacin for retinal or vitreous hemorrhages and vitreous floaters

My university library seems to have a it in their warehouse, and I've placed a request for a copy. I'll let you know when I get it.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide all adverts.

Most likely. The patent ran out in 1997, so it is a free for all right now.

It is also possible that some progress would have happened without the intervention, but I have seen newer pictures with progress easily seen...

 

Where did you see the pictures?

 

I probably won't remember, but somewhere googling "iodo-niacin" and on result page 5 or 6.