The Chamber of Masters of Pharmacy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) warns citizens that it does not make sense to excessively purchase food supplements containing iodine for the purpose of protection against possible nuclear radiation.
In some European countries, the demand for iodine tablets has increased, after the fighting over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine intensified.
”Dietary supplements for this purpose cannot help, since they contain very small amounts of the active substance, therefore a person should consume enormous amounts of dietary supplements, in order to achieve a therapeutic effect similar to a medicine containing potassium iodide as an active substance,” they said from the Chamber of Masters of Pharmacy of the FBiH.
They point out that potassium iodide is a medicine used to prevent the intake of radioactive iodine in the thyroid gland in newborns, children, adolescents, and adults up to 40 years of age, after nuclear accidents in which radioactive isotopes of iodine are released.
However, as they state, potassium iodide is not a medicine that should be used without consulting a doctor or pharmacist, and it is used only in moments of exposure to a nuclear cloud, which is a consequence of a nuclear disaster.
In these cases, potassium iodide is not used with people over 40 years of age, because it has been established that in this population there is no greater risk of thyroid cancer after exposure to radioactive iodine, and the risk of side effects of the drug increases with age.
”On the occasion of this and similar misinformation that can seriously endanger or harm human health, we again invite the public to inform themselves about their health condition and therapeutic needs with a Master of Pharmacy – the most available health workers, who will help them in the correct selection of the necessary therapy and the supervision of their treatment. Masters of pharmacy are highly educated experts in the field of biomedicine and healthcare, the greatest experts in medicines and as such are always available for advice on preserving and improving health,” the Chamber of Masters of Pharmacy of the FBiH emphasized.
In the public institution “Apoteke Sarajevo” (eng. Sarajevo Pharmacies), there has not been an increase in the number of inquiries from citizens regarding the possibility of obtaining iodine in tablets, “Apoteke Sarajevo” confirmed, Federalna writes.
E.Dz.
