Can Iodine Protect You From Radiation?

Well, according to the article that I will be referring to you now, the answer is partly yes or no (from the Health and Physics Society) .

Here is the scenario: Nuclear reactor leakage with radioactive iodine spillage and with human population.

Iodine (radioactive or nonradioactive) when metabolize to the human body has an affinity with the thyroid gland formation.  Iodine is a necessary component to produce T3 and T4 hormones (thyroid hormones).  The use of iodine (sodium iodide) works by overloading the thyroid gland with normal iodine before the invasion of the radioactive iodine. So the function only is limited to the thyroid gland and not to the other site of the body.

If radioactive iodine or any radioactive materials goes into the body and reacts with the other parts of it, then that's another story altogether.  Sodium iodide can't protect the other parts of the body and interact with other forms of radioactive materials.

     Nuclear Plant, Sodium Iodide in 3D and Thyroid Gland Images