Iodine metabolism within the human body

This paper summarized the iodine metabolism, particularly that of a large amount of iodine, in Japanese using radioiodine as a tracer. In the patients with hyperthyroidism, hourly variation of 131I distribution within the body was examined when the iodine intake in meals was high and low respectively. The relationship between 131I-thyroid uptake rate and the amount of iodine taken at meal was also studied. The ideas of organic and inorganic iodine tank in the thyroid gland and four compartments model were deviced in order to analyse the iodine metabolism within the body. In addition, long-term observation of iodine metabolism within the body was carried out after the administration of 131I, and the process of the metabolism including the form of its presence in the blood and the central government was outlined. Considering above results, countermeasures against human body contamination with 131I were mentioned. (Serizawa, K.)