Potassium iodide (iodide potassium)

J Dermatolog Treat. 2003 Dec;14(4):200-2.
Potassium iodide remains the most effective therapy for cutaneous sporotrichosis.
Sandhu K, Gupta S.
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh, India.
Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous fungal infection caused by the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii. Itraconazole has largely replaced older therapies, but we present a case of lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis that failed to respond to an adequate course of itraconazole yet responded dramatically to treatment with saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI).

Food Chem Toxicol. 2004 Feb;42(2):209-15.
Lack of genotoxicity of potassium iodate in the alkaline comet assay and in the cytokinesis-block micronucleus test. Comparison to potassium bromate.
Poul JM, Huet S, Godard T, Sanders P.
AFSSA, Laboratoire d'Etudes et de Recherches sur les Medicaments Veterinaires et les Desinfectants, Unite de Toxicologie Alimentaire, BP 90203, 35302 Cedex, Fougeres, France
Iodine could be added to the diet of human population in the form of iodide or iodate but iodate had not been adequately tested for genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. In the present study, genotoxic effects of potassium iodate were evaluated in vitro using the alkaline comet assay and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay on CHO cells and compared to halogenate salt analogues potassium bromate and chlorate and also to their respective reduced forms (potassium iodide, bromide and chloride). The results showed that the comet assay failed to detect the presence of DNA damage after a treatment of cells by potassium iodate for concentrations up to 10 mM. This absence of primary DNA damage was confirmed in the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. In the same way, results showed that potassium chlorate as well as potassium iodide, bromide and chloride did not induced DNA damage in the alkaline comet assay for doses up to 10 mM. By contrast, potassium bromate exposure led to an increase in both DNA damage and frequency of micronucleated cells. The repair of bromate-induced DNA damage was incomplete 24 h after the end of treatment. These results seem to indicate that potassium bromate would induce DNA damage by several mechanisms besides oxidative stress.

Endocr J. 2003 Oct;50(5):589-93.
Urinary iodine kinetics after oral loading of potassium iodine.
Takamura N, Hamada A, Yamaguchi N, Matsushita N, Tarasiuk I, Ohashi T, Aoyagi K, Mine M, Yamashita S.
Department of Public Health, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
We studied the kinetics of iodine in various forms, in order to establish appropriate guidelines of iodine prophylaxis for thyroid blockade at nuclear emergency in "iodine rich areas", such as Japan. First, the effect of equivalent dose of potassium iodide (KI) (solution vs. tablet) was evaluated with excretions of urinary iodine (UI) at Nagasaki, Japan, and it was revealed that there was no difference of iodine kinetics between solution and tablet. We also performed the same study at Gomel, Belarus, which was known to be an iodine deficient area, and obtained the same results. Second, the kinetics of iodine included in "iodine rich" food was also evaluated with excretions of UI. Interestingly, the ratio of UI excretion with iodine rich food was significantly lower than that with KI tablets until 6 h after the intake (ANOVA, p = 0.02). These results proved that 1) KI solution as well as its tablet is useful for prophylaxis and 2) prophylaxis by iodine rich food is not effective for rapid blockade of thyroid gland at nuclear emergency. Finally, we emphasized that the approach from social medicine is definitely important to establish an effective iodine prophylaxis.

Cancer. 2003 Jul 15;98(2):389-96.
van Santen HM, de Kraker J, van Eck BL, de Vijlder JJ, Vulsma T.
Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Improved radiation protection of the thyroid gland with thyroxine, methimazole, and potassium iodide during diagnostic and therapeutic use of radiolabeled metaiodobenzylguanidine in children with neuroblastoma.
During radiolabeled metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) administration in children with neuroblastoma, the thyroid is protected from (123/131)I uptake by potassium iodide. Despite this protection, up to 64% of patients develop thyroid dysfunction. The authors introduce a new method of radiation protection for the thyroid gland. In a prospective cohort study, 34 children with neuroblastoma who received MIBG were given thyroxine, methimazole, and potassium iodide for protection of the thyroid gland. Protection started 1 day before the start of diagnostic 123I-MIBG and was continued until 4 weeks after the last therapeutic 131I-MIBG dose. Follow-up measurements were performed every 3 months after the protection was stopped. Visualization of the thyroid on MIBG images was reviewed by three nuclear medicine physicians. Results were compared with a historic control group of children who had received potassium iodide for thyroid protection during MIBG administration. After a mean follow-up of 19 months, there were 23 evaluable patients. Thyroid function was normal in 86% of survivors compared with 44% of children in the historic control group (P=0.011; Pearson chi-square test). Scintigraphic visualization of the thyroid diminished substantially after the new protection (21.5% vs. 5.3%, respectively; P=0.000). The results of the current study indicate that compared with potassium iodide alone, combined thyroxine, methimazole, and potassium iodide protect the thyroid more effectively against radiation damage from (123/131)I during diagnostic and therapeutic MIBG administration in children with neuroblastoma.

J Nutr. 2003 Sep;133(9):3008S-10S.
Dunn JT.
Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System and International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Iodine should be routinely added to complementary foods.
Iodine deficiency has major health consequences for the fetus and infant. Most individuals can tolerate fairly high intakes of iodine without problems. The Western Hemisphere has made great progress towards correcting its iodine deficiency, but pockets of deficiency remain and fragile monitoring systems endanger sustainability. Because the consequences of iodine deficiency are severe and the risks of excess treatment with modest supplements are minimal, we recommend the regular addition of 90 microg of iodine daily to complementary foods for children and 150 micro g for pregnant or lactating women, accompanied by effective monitoring of urinary iodine concentration in the population.

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2003 Aug;57(8):947-55.
Waldmann A, Koschizke JW, Leitzmann C, Hahn A.
Institute of Food Science, University of Hanover, Hanover, Germany.
Dietary intakes and lifestyle factors of a vegan population in Germany: results from the German Vegan Study.
Evaluation of dietary intakes and lifestyle factors of German vegans. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Germany. Subjects were recruited through journal advertisements. Of 868 volunteers, only 154 participated in all study segments (pre- and main questionnaire, two 9-day food frequency questionnaires, blood sampling) and fulfilled the following study criteria: vegan dietary intake at least 1 year prior to study start, minimum age of 18 y, no pregnancy or childbirth during the last 12 months. No interventions. All the 154 subjects had a comparatively low BMI (median 21.2 kg/m(2)), with an extremely low mean consumption of alcohol (0.77+/-3.14 g/day) and tobacco (96.8% were nonsmokers). Mean energy intake (total collective: 8.23+/-2.77 MJ) was higher in strict vegans than in moderate ones. Mean carbohydrate, fat, and protein intakes in proportion to energy (total collective: 57.1:29.7:11.6%) agreed with current recommendations. Recommended intakes for vitamins and minerals were attained through diet, except for calcium (median intake: 81.1% of recommendation), iodine (median: 40.6%), and cobalamin (median: 8.8%). For the male subgroup, the intake of a small amount of food of animal origin improved vitamin and mineral nutrient densities (except for zinc), whereas this was not the case for the female subgroup (except for calcium). CONCLUSION: In order to reach favourable vitamin and mineral intakes, vegans should consider taking supplements containing riboflavin, cobalamin, calcium, and iodine. Intake of total energy and protein should also be improved.

Cent Eur J Public Health. 2003 Sep;11(3):120-3.
Delange FM.
Executive Director and Regional Coordinator emeritus for Europe of the International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders, Department of Pediatrics, University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
Control of iodine deficiency in Western and Central Europe.
The paper summarizes the updated information published in peer review journals on the status of iodine deficiency in Western and Central Europe. Nationwide evaluations of the prevalence of goiter and of the concentrations of urinary iodine were conducted during recent years in 17 of the 31 countries of Western and Central Europe, mostly in school-aged children. Fourteen of the 31 countries had reached a normal status of iodine nutrition, three countries were close to iodine sufficiency, iodine deficiency persisted in 13 other countries and data are missing for Albania. The most important alterations of thyroid function due to iodine deficiency in Europe occur in neonates and very young infants. The major measure for the prevention of iodine deficiency is the fortification of all salt for human and animal consumption and for the food industry. The recommended daily intake of iodine for all ages in all inhabitants in Europe are as follows: 90 microg/day from 0 to 59 month, 120 microg/day between 6 and 12 years, 100 microg/day in adolescents and adults and 200 microg/day in pregnant and lactating women. The main guidelines for the correction of iodine deficiency in Europe are included.