How does potassium iodide (KI) prevent thyroid cancer?
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck. Thyroid hormones regulate the body’s metabolism, facilitate normal growth and development, and control the functioning of many organs. The thyroid absorbs and stores iodine because it is essential for the production of thyroid hormones. Taking KI literally “fills up” the thyroid gland with stable iodine, preventing it from absorbing radioactive iodine, which could cause thyroid cancer.