Because of the Ukraine war: demand for iodine tablets is increasing – but are they really helping? 

Created: 03/05/2022, 09:35

By: Franziska Kaindl

Pharmacists and authorities advise against taking iodine tablets independently.

© Rainer Keuenhof/Imago

With the beginning of the Ukraine war, the demand for iodine tablets in pharmacies increased.

But what are the pills good for – and do you really need them?

After Russian President Vladimir Putin put his country's nuclear forces on alert, more and more people in this country are worried about a possible nuclear war.

In addition, many fear that nuclear power plants could also be hit during military conflicts, so that radioactive material could be released.

, there are already bottlenecks in potassium iodide tablets in Vienna

.

But demand is also increasing in Germany, as confirmed by pharmacist Thomas Benkert from Mammendorf, who is also President of the Federal Chamber of Pharmacists*.

But what exactly are the iodine tablets supposed to do in the case of radioactive radiation?

Iodine tablets are said to help with radioactive radiation

An accident in a nuclear power plant can result in the release of radioactive substances, including

.

If this is inhaled or ingested through food, it can accumulate in the thyroid gland and increase the

cancer, as the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) informs.

In order to prevent radioactive iodine from accumulating in the thyroid gland, high doses of non-radioactive iodine must be taken at the right time.

This is also known as

.

Also Read

That is why you should not take high-dose iodine tablets on your own

“ Pharmacists

to protect yourself from supposed exposure to radioactive iodine,

” explains Prof. Dr.

Martin Schulz, Chairman of the Drug Commission of German Pharmacists (AMK) in a press release.

"Self-medication involves

, but currently has no benefit." In Germany there is currently

, since there is no exposure to radioactive iodine, as the communication also states.

The Ukraine and the war taking place there are far enough away – so it is not to be expected that taking iodine tablets could become necessary.

People over 45 years of age should not take iodine tablets, as the BfS also informs: "For them, the risks of side effects outweigh the benefits of avoiding an increased risk of thyroid cancer." There are also health risks for people who

suffer from

- i.e. one Hyperthyroidism with no symptoms.

A not inconsiderable part of the German population is affected.

For them, taking high-dose iodine tablets could lead to an overactive thyroid gland with signs of illness – up to and including acute cardiovascular failure.

Therefore, people with thyroid disease should only take iodine tablets after consulting their doctor.

Also interesting

Why stocking up on iodine tablets doesn't necessarily make sense

Iodine tablets should “only be taken when expressly requested by the civil protection authorities”

– in the dose specified by the authorities, explains the BfS.

According to the Federal Union of German Associations of Pharmacists e.

V. (ABDA) by about 100 to 1,000 times the normal daily iodine intake through food.

The iodine tablets that are available in pharmacies or are prescribed by the doctor have too low a dose of iodine to be used for an iodine blockade, as stated on the website of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) called.

On top of that

, which are issued to the population if required - within a radius of up to 100 kilometers from an affected nuclear power plant.

The iodine tablets only protect against the absorption of radioactive iodine in the thyroid gland - they do not help with other radioactive substances.