Iodine

Adequate levels are necessary for thyroid hormone metabolism.

Diatomic iodine, I2, is neutral; inorganic iodine also eists as Iodide ($\ce I^-$), hypoiodate ($\ce{I^+^1}$), iodite ($\ce{I^+^3}$), iodate ($\ce{I^+^5}$), and periodate ($\ce{I^+^7}$). All positively charged iodines sans I2 have LD50s in the range of 35-2100 mg/kg due to the antioxidant cost of reducing them to iodide.
- In kelp, I believe it’s iodide.
Depletes Copper and Iron.
High doses without selenium can cause inflammation.
Megadosing iodine intake temporarily reduces thyroid hormone synthesis, which lasts for about 24 hours. This is known as the Wolff-Chaikoff effect. Many people fear iodine period - it seems that it might be debunked and only applies to massive doses as I stated. It doesn’t start occuring until a plasma value of 20 γ per cent (μg/100g).
http://exo-science.com/halogens.html
- By far the heaviest nutrient the human body requires. 30% of it is found in the thyroid. T3 and T4 are named so because of the iodine molecules!
- 90% of American women get fibrocystic breast changes - as opposed to 3% 100 years ago. It’s simply an iodine deficiency.
The iodine in iodized salt is mostly potassium iodate.

Too late in the day, it can energize some people and lead to insomnia.
Following supplementation of iodine, more NIS (and therefore TSH) is required to shuttle iodine into the (thyroid) cells. This rise in TSH can last for months until the thyroid gland is saturated with iodine.
SSKI (saturated solution of potassium iodide) is arguably superior. RPF: this guy has some real experience with it all. It’s much easier and faster to take a few drops of the stuff than Lugol’s, which is more suited for local treatment. He says it can be taken by the gram with no side effects (but recommends just several drops)
- Make it with potassium iodide powder; 1g KI/mL of distilled water very gradually with shaking in between.
- Or buy 30mL for $40 which I’m pretty sure is MAD expensive. IT’s literally powder/crystals + distilled water so don’t do it
- https://pforlife.com/potassium-iodide-100-pure-usp-powder-31-k-69-i.html
- In treating cutaneous sporotrichosis, 3-6g/day of SSKI with a mean treatment length of 3.5 months - side effects in only 5.5% of cases.
- Something like 100-200mcg/day according to olive
Iodine-Induced Thyroid Disease (1976)
- Level of iodine required to block organification varies but can result from a single dose of 750μg of iodine.

Not even gram-sized oral doses of potassium iodide will reduce thyroxine synthesis one bit—i.e. induce the Wolf–Chaikoff effect—because it takes so long to get to the bloodstream and is rapidly excreted when it does. The iodide ion (I⁻) is very large, relatively lipophilic, and has a striking affinity for branched polysaccharides. And yet: I do feel that the diiodine species in Lugol’s is potentially problematic because it reacts spontaneously with alkenes and tyrosine, creating an unimaginable amount of novel iodinated products in the intestines. The ability of I2 to inhibit cancer in vitro is accompanied by the iodination of Arachidonic Acid, reducing the amount oi PGE2 formed.
- That would make it an oxidant.
- Soaps have an iodine value; it is a reliable index of unsaturation, since double bonds readily get ‘saturated’ by iodine.
Iodine is basically insoluble in water. The addition of potassium iodide allows it to dissolve easily, and immediately dissociates into free iodide (I-) and K+.
1 drop (0.05mL) of 2% Lugol’s solution = 1mg iodine ($\ce{I_2}$; molecular iodine) + 1.5mg potassium iodide.
Never dilute with tap water as the chlorine reacts with I/iodide. A good mouthwash is something like 10mg/drops in 100mL of water for 100ppm concentration.

yana-notes