One interesting use of iodine supplementation is during nuclear accidents, where it is given to flood the thyroid and prevent unstable iodine isotopes from being taken up.
"Iodine-131 (usually as iodide) is a component of nuclear fallout, and is particularly dangerous owing to the thyroid gland's propensity to concentrate ingested iodine and retain it for periods longer than this isotope's radiological half-life of eight days. For this reason, people at risk of exposure to environmental radioactive iodine (iodine-131) in fallout may be instructed to take non-radioactive potassium iodide tablets... Ingestion of [a] large dose of non-radioactive iodine minimises the uptake of radioactive iodine by the thyroid gland."
I-131 also has some interesting history as the very first application of radioactive isotopes in a medical setting. It's used to treat hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer.
One interesting use of iodine supplementation is during nuclear accidents, where it is given to flood the thyroid and prevent unstable iodine isotopes from being taken up.
This is different than iodine added to salt, or iodine in liquid form for wounds. I believe it is potassium iodine.
That's correct. Our local public heath department, like many others in communities located near nuclear power plants, has a program for utility-funded distribution of KI to households in designated areas.
It is only taken when the nice person on the radio tells you to do so (you know to tune in from the blaring emergency sirens, tested semiannually). Rather interestingly, the emergency instructions for evacuation state that parents should not go to schools to get their kids, because they'll already be gone: in an emergency, municipal transit buses head to the schools, then take loads of kids to designated areas well upwind of the plant.
All of this info and more is available in a rather well-produced section of the local phone books. Since phone books tend to end up unopened in recycling bins these days, I suspect most newer residents have little idea of what I'm talking about.
Iodized salt use is decreasing in the US as well. I take a lot of supplements and vitamins and I rarely see iodine as an ingredient so I have placed iodized salt next to my sea salt as I know I do not get enough iodine rich foods in my diet. It's easy to forget about and while I may take things like St Johns and Turmeric daily, I can live without them, iodine not so much.
The salt used in processed and prepared foods usually isn't iodized, contributing to declining iodine intake given the increasing consumption of these foods.
industrially farmed cattle are often fed iodized salt, which can make their dairy products a good source of iodine. depends on the farm's practices though
Good point. I'd hope that there are other sources of iodine than salt in regions that have higher iodine content -- after all, salt was just the vehicle chosen for the supplement. But I can also see what you say about prepared foods.
