Potassium iodide (KI)<\/strong> is a salt of the essential mineral iodine. Your body needs iodine to synthesize the hormones thyroxine (T4<\/sub>) and triiodothyronine (T3<\/sub>). These two hormones are vitally important for normal development, growth and metabolism.<\/p>\n T4<\/sub> and T3<\/sub> are produced by the thyroid gland: a small, butterfly-shaped organ located in the neck. These hormones are made by specialized structures called “thyroid follicles,”<\/a> and then released into the bloodstream.<\/p>\n KI is used as a nutritional supplement for both humans and animals. It’s routinely added to livestock feeds, fortified foods, multivitamin formulas and iodized salt.<\/p>\n Iodine deficiency is a serious public health problem in many parts of the world<\/a>, so potassium iodide supplementation\u2014particularly in the form of iodized salt\u2014is vital for preventing iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs). IDDs are responsible for widespread health problems, including neurological and cognitive damage<\/a>, impaired growth, goiter and hypothyroidism.<\/p>\n KI has pharmaceutical uses too. It’s used for medical imaging, as an emergency treatment for hyperthyroidism (“thyroid storm<\/a>“), as an expectorant<\/a>, and as a treatment for cutaneous sporotrichosis<\/a> (a fungal skin infection).<\/p>\n Just as importantly, KI can be used to protect your thyroid gland from exposure to the radioactive iodine released during a nuclear accident or emergency.<\/p>\n Serious nuclear power plant accidents, such as Chernobyl<\/a> (Ukraine, 1986), Three Mile Island<\/a> (US, 1979) and Fukushima<\/a> (Japan, 2011), typically release gaseous iodine-131 (131<\/sup>I) into the atmosphere, where it can drift for miles beyond the point of origin.<\/p>\n Although the half-life of 131<\/sup>I is relatively short (~8 days), once inhaled or ingested (via contaminated food), it can be taken up by the thyroid gland, just like stable (non-radioactive) iodine is.<\/p>\n The resulting radiation damage dramatically increases the risk of developing thyroid disease\u2014including cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n And the risk to infants and children is even higher than that of adults.<\/a><\/p>\n How does KI protect the thyroid from 131<\/sup>I?<\/p>\n FDA-approved supplements provide KI in a dose (130mg) that provides iodine far in excess of the RDA (150ug for adults). This floods the thyroid with stable iodine, and effectively blocks uptake of the radioactive isotope.<\/a><\/p>\n The unabsorbed 131<\/sup>I is then rapidly excreted in urine. While KI intake does not protect against exposure to other radionuclides (such as strontium-90, plutonium-239 or cesium-137), it can help prevent one of the best-known threats to health caused by nuclear fallout.<\/p>\n Taking protective doses of KI is not without risk, however, which is why strict guidelines for usage have been developed by the US FDA<\/a> and other agencies throughout the world (such as WHO<\/a>).<\/p>\n According to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC)<\/a>, taking KI could be harmful to people with allergies to iodine or who have certain skin disorders. In addition, those with pre-existing thyroid disease, or who are taking specific prescription drugs (lithium, warfarin\/coumadin or anti-thyroid medications<\/a>) should take it only under medical supervision.<\/p>\n KI can cause side effects in healthy people too, such as upset stomach, skin rash and\/or inflamed salivary glands. While large doses of KI are safe when taken over the recommended period of time (14 days), longer-term use can induce hypothyroidism.<\/p>\n In summary: thyroid-protective doses of KI should be taken only when the radiation exposure warrants it, for no more than the prescribed period of time and in age-appropriate amounts.<\/strong><\/p>\n These are the dosing guidelines, according to the FDA:<\/a><\/p>\n * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\nWhat is It Used For?<\/h2>\n
How Does It Protect from Radioactive Iodine?<\/h3>\n
Dosing Guidelines<\/h3>\n