Sunday, June 7, 2015

Some Basics Regarding The Use Of Lugols Iodine Solution

By Elaine Guthrie


Iodine is one of the most widely used elements both domestically and industrially. A French physician was the person to ever use lugols iodine solution in the year 1829. He prepared it by mixing elemental iodine with potassium iodide and dissolving in water. Today, the resultant compound is widely used in domestic and industrial application. Its use has been especially appreciated in scientific research. It is also known by other terms such as Markodine, iodine potassium iodide and Strong solution.

The compound is available in an over the counter form as an ointment, tincture or gel. This form is used as a disinfectant especially when dealing with minor injuries to the skin. When applied topically, it is commonly it is mixed with povidone to increase its effectiveness. The tincture is also known to be useful in emergency disinfection of water. The mechanism of action of the compound in this case is not clear.

Lugols has a characteristic reaction in the presence of starch which is widely available in many organic compounds. When it interacts with the polysaccharides that make up starch molecules there is a blue black colour change and this is considered a positive reaction. For this reason, the solution is used in a number of biochemical experiments. The same reaction is seen when testing for a condition known as amyloidosis in living cells.

The compound is important in management of some types of cancers particularly cervical cancer. In this test, the solution is used to stain the entire cervix and part of the upper vagina. Normal tissues take the whole stain and appear dark brown when examined under a colposcope. The abnormal tissues do not stain entirely and appear paler. The pathologist selects these areas for taking of biopsies.

The solution has been used in a number of selected patients suffering from Graves disease. The disease is a severe form of hyperthyroidism. Administering the solution during thyroidectomy (removal of thyroid gland), helps in reducing blood loss. This benefit is, however, not seen in patients whose thyroid hormonal levels are within the normal ranges or in those that are on medication.

One of the earliest uses of the solution was the treatment of gout. With the discovery of better drugs, it has been dropped from the list of the commonly used drugs for the condition. The same trend has been witnessed in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. In the latter case, it has fallen out of favour due to its ability to inhibit thyroid hormone synthesis. This is termed the Wolff Chaikoff phenomenon.

In the marine and aquarium industry, the compound is vital for macroalgae growth and for the survival of coral reef inhabitants. This effect is believed to be the result of a reduction in the number of unwanted bacteria and parasites within the same habitat. The other major benefit is the expansion of polyps and prevention of coral bleaching in instances where the light intensity is abnormally high.

Excessive amounts of lugols may cause harm to body cells to varying extents. High concentrations have been reported to cause destruction of the stomach mucosa during endoscopic examination. However, it should be noted that these are rare incidences.




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