What does science say about Iodine (Lugol) and Thyroid cancer?
- We don’t say yes or no. We show what has been studied.
- Working in a lab or in animals does not mean it works in people.
- Don’t stop or change your treatment without talking to your doctor.
What has been studied
- Lab studies (cells)Tests on cells in a dish.Source: PubMed · as of 9 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed52studies
- Animal studiesTests in mice, rats or other animals.Source: PubMed · as of 9 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed114studies
- Studies in peoplePublished studies with human participants.Source: PubMed · as of 9 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed1906studies
- Registered trials in peopleTrials entered in a public registry, whatever their result.ClinicalTrials.gov: 19 · as of 9 Nov 2026 · Open the search at ClinicalTrials.govEU CTIS: 0 · as of 9 Nov 2026 · Open the search at EU CTISBy phase:No phase (8)Phase 2 (4)Phase 1 (3)Phase 2/3 (2)Phase 3 (1)Phase 1/2 (1)By status:Recruiting (9)Completed (5)Running, not recruiting (2)Not yet recruiting (2)Stopped early (1)Countries (6):United States (10)China (2)France (1)United Kingdom (1)Netherlands (1)Poland (1)With a linked publication (results): 0 of 19The registries do not tell us here whether results were posted; a linked publication is shown instead.19trials
- Approved treatmentApproved by a medicines regulator for this disease.No
Examples of what we found
The trials
Phase 1/2
Empirical Radioactive Iodine Therapy in DTC
Not yet recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT07453225Phase 2
Comparison of I-124 PET/CT for the Diagnosis of Thyroid Cancer
Recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT06961084No phase
Iodine Status and Characteristics of Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Not yet recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT06626581No phase
Iodine Uptake After a Low Iodine Diet
Recruiting · Netherlands
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT05599139Phase 1
Combination Radiotherapy and Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Treatment Planning for Thyroid Cancer
Recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT04892303Phase 1
Lesion Dosimetry With Iodine-124 in Metastatic Thyroid Carcinoma
Recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT03647358Phase 2
Trametinib in Increasing Tumoral Iodine Incorporation in Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Thyroid Cancer
Running, not recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT02152995Phase 2/3
IoN- Is Ablative Radio-iodine Necessary for Low Risk Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Patients
Running, not recruiting · United Kingdom
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT01398085No phase
Iodine Nutrition Status and Clinical Characteristics of Thyroid Cancer
Recruiting · China
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT06623500Phase 1
Lesion Dosimetry With 124-Iodine in Metastatic Thyroid Carcinoma
Completed · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT00673010
Thinking of paying for it? Read this first
- Ask for published results. Stories, thank-you letters and "patients report" are not results. Ask where the results were published.
- Know what you pay for. Ask in writing: what exactly is included, who gets the money, and what happens if you stop.
- Ask your own doctor first. Some products interfere with chemotherapy, radiation or other medicines. Your treating doctor can check this.
- Do not stop standard treatment for it. Do not stop or delay your treatment without talking to your care team.
Other treatments people ask about
- Fasting and fasting-mimicking dietStep: Large trials
- High-dose vitamin CStep: Large trials
- MetforminStep: Large trials
- Vitamin DStep: Large trials
- MelatoninStep: Phase 2 trials
- Curcumin (turmeric)Step: First trials in people
- HyperthermiaStep: Reports in people
- Ketogenic dietStep: Reports in people
- Mistletoe extractStep: Reports in people
- StatinsStep: Reports in people
- MebendazoleStep: Animal studies only
Not medical advice. Talk to the care team before changing treatment.