PLASMA INORGANIC IODIDE, A CHEMICAL REGULATOR OF NORMAL THYROID FUNCTION1

WOLFF, J.; CHAIKOFF, I. L.

doi:10.1210/endo-42-6-468

Cited by 54Thyroid Disorders and TreatmentsThyroid Cancer Diagnosis and TreatmentChemical Analysis and Environmental Impact

PLASMA INORGANIC IODIDE, A CHEMICAL REGULATOR OF NORMAL THYROID FUNCTION1

WOLFF, J., CHAIKOFF, I. L.·1948·Endocrinology

DOI 10.1210/endo-42-6-468

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Abstract

In an earlier communication (Wolff and Chaikoff, 1948) it was shown that the administration of large amounts of iodine temporarily inhibits the capacity of the normal thyroid gland to bind iodine organically. This inhibition appeared to be related to the level of plasma iodine. So long as the concentration of plasma iodine exceeded 20–35γ per cent, no organic binding of iodine occurred in the gland, and only when the concentration fell below this critical range did the gland resume its function of depositing iodine in an organic form. On the basis of these findings it was postulated that the level of plasma iodine is part of a homeostatic mechanism governing hormone synthesis in the normal gland. Thus, when a large amount of iodine is ingested, the prevention of its deposition as organically bound compounds in the thyroid gland keeps the ingested iodine circulating as inorganic iodide, in which form it is readily excreted by the kidney.

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Iodine acutely lowers thyroid hormone concentrations by reducing hormone secretion and inhibits its own organification (the Wolff-Chaikoff effect).
“Iodine acutely lowers thyroid hormone concentrations by reducing hormone secretion (238,239), and inhibits its own organification (the Wolff-Chaikoff effect) (240).”
From 2016 American Thyroid Association Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Hyperthyroidism and Other Causes of Thyrotoxicosis (2016) · cites this paper as [240]

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“Iodine acutely lowers thyroid hormone concentrations by reducing hormone secretion (238,239), and inhibits its own organification (the Wolff–Chaikoff effect) (240).”
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Authors: WOLFF, J., & CHAIKOFF, I. L.
Affiliations: University of California, Berkeley (US)
ORCID: WOLFF, J.
Venue: Endocrinology
Publisher: The Endocrine Society
Published: 1948-06
Volume: 42
Issue: 6
Pages: 468-471
ISSN: 0013-7227 (ISSN-L)
1945-7170
DOI: 10.1210/endo-42-6-468
OpenAlex: W1997063289
Cited by: 54
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
FWCI: 1.51
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Thyroid Disorders and Treatments
Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Chemical Analysis and Environmental Impact
Keywords: thyroid function, thyroid hormone synthesis, iodine binding, thyroid gland
MeSH terms: Humans, Iodides, Iodine, Iodine Isotopes, Thyroid Gland

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PLASMA INORGANIC IODIDE, A CHEMICAL REGULATOR OF NORMAL THYROID FUNCTION1

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