Department of Surgical Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Nutrients. 2021 Dec 14;13(12):4469. doi: 10.3390/nu13124469.
The present review deals with the functional roles of iodine and its metabolism. The main biological function of iodine concerns its role in the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones (THs) by the thyroid gland. In addition, however, further biological roles of iodine have emerged. Precisely, due to its significant action as scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), iodine is thought to represent one of the oldest antioxidants in living organisms. Moreover, iodine oxidation to hypoiodite (IO) has been shown to possess strong bactericidal as well as antiviral and antifungal activity. Finally, and importantly, iodine has been demonstrated to exert antineoplastic effects in human cancer cell lines. Thus, iodine, through the action of different tissue-specific peroxidases, may serve different evolutionarily conserved physiological functions that, beyond TH biosynthesis, encompass antioxidant activity and defense against pathogens and cancer progression.
本综述探讨了碘及其代谢的功能作用。碘的主要生物学功能涉及甲状腺合成甲状腺激素 (THs)。然而，除此之外，碘的其他生物学作用也逐渐显现。确切地说，由于其作为活性氧 (ROS) 清除剂的重要作用，碘被认为是生物体内最古老的抗氧化剂之一。此外，碘氧化为次碘酸盐 (IO) 已被证明具有强大的杀菌、抗病毒和抗真菌活性。最后，也是很重要的一点，碘已被证明在人类癌细胞系中具有抗肿瘤作用。因此，碘可能通过不同组织特异性过氧化物酶的作用，发挥不同的进化保守的生理功能，除了 TH 合成之外，还包括抗氧化活性以及抵抗病原体和癌症进展的作用。
