Radioactive iodine
Radioactive iodine has been studied in 4 papers since 2021: 3 observational studies in people, 1 review; 1 in the past year. The newest paper, Jul 24, 2026: “Assessing the reproductive lifespan of female cancer survivors using AMH: a meta-synthesis of longitudinal studies”.
4 papers study it9 findingsUpdated
See all 4 papers on radioactive iodine
At a glance
The findings reach people, from one lab or study. 4 independent labs in 3 countries.
“There was no significant difference in CH VAF increase in patients treated with RAI compared to untreated age-matched controls (3.8% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.2).”
1 of its findings points the other way.
- 4 independent labs in 3 countries
- 1 finding against
- Funders: Cycle for Survival and 1 more
- Humans3
What did studies of radioactive iodine find?
7Studies of radioactive iodine measured 7 outcomes, among them anti-Müllerian hormone, solid second primary malignant neoplasm and variant allele frequency.
Anti-Müllerian hormone
downin humans1
1 study
Anti-Müllerian hormone
downin humans1
Radioactive iodine decreases anti-Müllerian hormone in humans (thyroid cancer) (-57.9% (95% CI: -65.2 to -36.4)).
“With thyroid cancer (median age 32.5 years, n = 181), radioactive iodine treatment was associated with a 57.9% reduction in AMH at 12 months (95% CI: -65.2 to -36.4; 4 studies; GRADE: high-certainty evidence).”
Reviewthyroid cancer12 months from end of treatmentfemalesn = 181
Human reproduction update
Solid second primary malignant neoplasm
no changein humans1RR 0.94
1 study
Solid second primary malignant neoplasm
no changein humans1RR 0.94
Radioactive iodine was not clearly linked with solid second primary malignant neoplasm in humans (nonmetastatic differentiated thyroid cancer) (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.76-1.16).
“The overall risk of a solid second primary malignant neoplasm was not elevated (RR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.76-1.16)”
Humansnonmetastatic differentiated thyroid cancer
JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery
Variant allele frequency
no changein humans1
1 study
Variant allele frequency
no changein humans1
Radioactive iodine showed no clear effect on variant allele frequency in humans (3.8% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.2).
“There was no significant difference in CH VAF increase in patients treated with RAI compared to untreated age-matched controls (3.8% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.2).”
Human trial24 monthsn = 40
Clinical endocrinology
FSH
no changein humans1
1 study
FSH
no changein humans1
Radioactive iodine showed no clear effect on FSH in humans (women with papillary thyroid cancer) (P = 0.23).
“We found decreased AFC (P = 0.03), serum levels of AMH (P < 0.01), inhibin B (P = 0.03), but not FSH (P = 0.23), 1 year after RAI treatment”
Human trialwomen with papillary thyroid cancer1 yearfemalesn = 25
Endocrine connections
Inhibin B
downin humans1
1 study
Inhibin B
downin humans1
Radioactive iodine decreases inhibin B in humans (women with papillary thyroid cancer) (P = 0.03).
“We found decreased AFC (P = 0.03), serum levels of AMH (P < 0.01), inhibin B (P = 0.03), but not FSH (P = 0.23), 1 year after RAI treatment”
Human trialwomen with papillary thyroid cancer1 yearfemalesn = 25
Endocrine connections
AMH
downin humans1
1 study
AMH
downin humans1
Radioactive iodine decreases AMH in humans (women with papillary thyroid cancer) (P < 0.01).
“We found decreased AFC (P = 0.03), serum levels of AMH (P < 0.01), inhibin B (P = 0.03), but not FSH (P = 0.23), 1 year after RAI treatment”
Human trialwomen with papillary thyroid cancer1 yearfemalesn = 25
Endocrine connections
Antral follicle count
downin humans1
1 study
Antral follicle count
downin humans1
Radioactive iodine decreases antral follicle count in humans (women with papillary thyroid cancer) (P = 0.03).
“We found decreased AFC (P = 0.03), serum levels of AMH (P < 0.01), inhibin B (P = 0.03), but not FSH (P = 0.23), 1 year after RAI treatment”
Human trialwomen with papillary thyroid cancerovary1 yearfemalesn = 25
Endocrine connections
What is radioactive iodine linked with?
2Studies link radioactive iodine with 2 measures: solid second primary malignant neoplasm and hematologic cancer.
Solid second primary malignant neoplasm
upin humans1RR 1.88
1 study
Solid second primary malignant neoplasm
upin humans1RR 1.88
Radioactive iodine is linked with a higher risk of solid second primary malignant neoplasm in humans (nonmetastatic differentiated thyroid cancer) (RR 1.88, 95% CI 1.59-2.21).
“The overall risk of a solid second primary malignant neoplasm was elevated (RR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.59-2.21)”
Humansnonmetastatic differentiated thyroid cancer
JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery
Hematologic cancer
upin humans1RR 1.35
1 study
Hematologic cancer
upin humans1RR 1.35
Radioactive iodine is linked with a higher risk of hematologic cancer in humans (nonmetastatic differentiated thyroid cancer) (RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.02-1.80).
“In the 15- to 44-year age group, radioactive iodine was associated with an increased risk of hematologic cancers (RR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.02-1.80)”
Humansnonmetastatic differentiated thyroid cancer
JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery