Evidence supporting the use of: Iodine
For the health condition: Infection

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 5

Iodine is scientifically validated for use in supporting and treating infections, particularly as a topical antiseptic. Its antimicrobial properties have been recognized since the 19th century, and it remains a cornerstone in infection control protocols. Iodine, especially in the form of povidone-iodine, acts by rapidly penetrating microbial cell walls and inactivating proteins and nucleic acids, leading to cell death. Peer-reviewed studies have consistently demonstrated its broad-spectrum efficacy against bacteria (including antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA), viruses, fungi, and protozoa. It is commonly used to disinfect skin prior to surgery, clean wounds, and sterilize medical equipment.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) both list iodine-based solutions as effective antiseptics. Clinical trials and laboratory studies rate its effectiveness highly, with minimal resistance reported. While oral or systemic iodine is not typically used to treat infections (except in severe iodine deficiency affecting immune function), topical application is standard in medical and first aid settings worldwide.

In summary, iodine’s use for infection is not only traditional but is also strongly supported by scientific evidence and global medical guidelines, making it a gold standard for topical infection prevention and minor wound care.

More about iodine
More about Infection

Other ingredients used for Infection

2'-Fucosyllactose
3-Phenyllactic Acid
Abrus
Abuta
Acacia
Acemannan
Aerva lanata
Agarikon Mushroom
Agastache
Agave
AHCC
Ajoene
Alantolactone
Alchornea
Alkylglycerols
Allicin
Alliin
Allspice
Allyl sulfide
alpha-humulene
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
Alstonia macrophylla
Alstonia scholaris
amber
American Liverleaf
Ampelopsis
anamu
Andrographis
andrographolide
Angelica
animal protein
annatto
apple cider vinegar
Aquilegia viridiflora
arabinogalactan
Ardisia
artesunate
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
astragalus
aucubin
Aureobasidium pullulans
avens
babchi
Baccharis dracunculifolia
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Bacillus
bacillus clausii
Backhousia citriodora
bacteria
balsam
banyan
Baphicacanthus cusia
barbary matrimony vine
Barleria
Basidiomycota
bayberry
bearberry
bee pollen
bee propolis
Beef liver
Belamcanda
benzyl isothiocyanate
Berberis (unspecified)
Bergenia
beta-glucan
betel
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium infantis
bignay
birch
bisabolene
bitter principals
black nightshade
black pepper
black root
black walnut
blackboard tree
blackthorn
Blepharis
boneset
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
Bupleurum
burdock
cactus
Caesalpinia crista
cajuput
calamus
caprylic acid
cardamom
carvacrol
cassava
cassia bark
cat's claw
catechu
celandine
Celastrus
Celosia
Centipeda
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chaff flower
chaga mushroom
chervil
Chiococca alba
chirata
Chlorophytum
Cinchona
Cistus
citral
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum trichotomum
cocklebur
coconut oil
Coin-leaf desmodium
colloidal silver
copaiba oil
Coptis chinensis
coriolus mushroom
corktree
croton seeds
cubeb
cuspidatum root
Cyanthillium cinereum
Cymbidium goeringii
Cynodon dactylon
dense fruit dittany
deoxyandrographolides
dialyzable leukocyte extract
Dichrostachys glomerata
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
Echinodorus
elderberry
elephant\'s head
Embelia
English horsemint
eucalyptus
eugenol
Euphorbia
European Elder
fang-feng
fern
Ficus religiosa
figwort
flowering quince
Flueggea suffruticosa
fucoidan
furans
Galbanum
Gallesia
genipap
geranial
geraniol
ginger
Globulins
Glucan peptides
Glucanase
glyceryl monolaurate
Golden Willow
goldenseal
Graviola
green chiretta
Guazuma ulmifolia
heartwood
Hedychium spicatum
Horsemint
Houttuynia
Humic acid
Hygrophila
hyssop
immunoglobin G
Immunoglobulin G
Indian coraltree
Indian gum arabic tree
Indian nightshade
iodine
Isoalantolactone
judastree
Kefiran
knotgrass
Kochia
L. lactis
Labdanum
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactococcus lactis
Lactoferrin
Lactoperoxidase
Lantana camara
Lapachol
lauric acid
Lentinan
Leptadenia
Leptospermum scoparium
Lesser speargrass
lichen
licorice root
lime
liverwort
Lomatium
Lophira lanceolata
Lysimachia
lysozyme
Macaranga indica
malabar nut
Malva sylvestris
mangosteen
mangostin
manzanita
Marsh Tea
Matapalo Tree
Meadow sage
Microtea debilis
Milk Protein
Mondo grass
Monolaurin
Moringa
Mormon Tea
Mountain horopito
Myrobalan
Myrrh
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
Naphthoquinones
Neem tree
Neoandrographolides
Nymphaea nouchali
Oldenlandia diffusa
oregon grape
oriental arborvitae
Osha
paederia foetida
pagoda tree
Pareira
Patrinia
pau d'arco
Pediococcus acidilactici
Pelargonium
Pellitory
Pepper Bark Tree
Peroxidase
Phellodendron
phlorotannins
Phragmites
Piper chaba
Piper retrofractum
Piperine
pistacia integerrima gall
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
Plumbago zeylanica
pogoda tree
Pokeweed
Polygonum
Polyporus
polysaccharides
Portulaca
Premna
prickly ash
probiotics
protein
purified silver
purple Tephrosia
Quisqualis
ravinsara
red root
reishi mushroom
Rhabdosia rubescens
Rosa laevigata
Rubia cordifolia
Rubia yunnanensis
rue
Sandalwood
Sandy Everlasting
Sanguisorba
Sarcandra glabra
sarsaparilla
Savory
schizonepeta
Schizophyllum commune
Scoparia dulcis
scrophularia root
sea salt
selenium
Self-Heal
Serrapeptase
Sesquiterpenic Acid
Simaruba
Siphoviridae
Skunkvine
Smoketree
Solanum anguivi
Spanish Needle
Speedwell
Spilanthes
Spiny Restharrow
spirulina
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Stemona
Stephania root
Stereospermum
Storax
streptococcus thermophilus
Streptomyces
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sumac
sweet wormwood
Swertia
Sword Bean
Tannins
Tansy
Terminalia
Terpinen-4-ol
Tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids
Thiosulfinate
Thuja
Trametes
Turkey tail mushroom
turmeric
Tylophorine
Umckalin
Umckaloabo
Verbascoside
Verbena
Veronica
vitamin A
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin D3
Waltheria ovata
Wasabi
Water Pepper
White oak
Winter Begonia
Xanthorrhizol
Yellow Nut Sedge
Yellow root
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade
Yerba santa
Zinc
Zingerone

Products containing iodine

Vitabase Active Man's Formula
Vitabase Active Woman's Multi
Douglas Laboratories Basic Minerals ™
Thorne Basic Prenatal Multivitamin
Designs For Health DFH Complete Multi™
Designs For Health DFH Complete Multi™ with Copper & Iron
Pure Encapsulations Energize Plus™ Pure Pack
Metagenics Ketogenic Shake Chocolate
Metagenics Ketogenic Shake Vanilla
Klean Athlete Klean Multivitamin ™
Vitabase Life's Essentials Plus
Metagenics MetaKids Nutrition Powder Chocolate
Metagenics MetaKids Nutrition Powder Vanilla
Pure Encapsulations O.N.E.™ Multivitamin
Integrative Therapeutics Physicians Elemental Diet Dextrose Free
Integrative Therapeutics Physician's Elemental Diet
Integrative Therapeutics Physician's Elemental Diet
Integrative Therapeutics Physicians Elemental Diet Kit
Metagenics Probioplex® Intensive Care Powder
Pure Encapsulations PureGenomics® Multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations PureLean® Protein
Pure Encapsulations Thyroid Support Complex
Douglas Laboratories THYROMEND™
Metagenics Ultra Glucose Control® Chocolate
Metagenics Ultra Glucose Control Chocolate
Metagenics Ultra Glucose Control Vanilla
Metagenics Ultra Glucose Control Vanilla
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive ® 2 Daily
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive ®-EZ Swallow
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive ® Kids Grape Flavor
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive ® Kids Orange Flavor
Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive® X
Metagenics UltraGI Replenish® Chocolate
Metagenics UltraGI Replenish Chocolate
Metagenics UltraGI Replenish Vanilla
Metagenics UltraGI Replenish Vanilla
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360°® Chocolate/Orange
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Mango
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Mango
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Orange
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Original Spice
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Pineapple/Banana
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Pineapple/Banana
Metagenics UltraMeal Advanced Protein® Dutch Chocolate
Metagenics UltraMeal Advanced Protein French Vanilla
Metagenics UltraMeal Advanced Protein Plain
Metagenics UltraMeal Cardio 360°® Pea/Rice Chocolate
Metagenics UltraMeal Cardio 360° Pea/Rice Vanilla
Metagenics UltraMeal® Daily Support Dutch Chocolate
Metagenics UltraMeal Daily Support Mixed Berry
Metagenics UltraMeal Rice Vanilla
Pure Encapsulations VisionPro Nutrients
Pure Encapsulations Women's Nutrients