Loma Linda Doctor Says Berries Protect As Well As Iodide Pills

Forget the potassium iodide pills, if you really want to guard against radiation, you have a better chance of doing that with blueberries, says a Loma Linda Doctor of Pharmacy 

Raylene Mote, Pharm.D., and Pharmacist in Charge at Inland Compounding Pharmacy in Loma Linda, said that while she understands the recent run on the pills, they won’t protect people they way they think they will.

The pill will protect only the thyroid and only against radioactive iodine, not against radiation in general, Mote said.

The pill can also make people sick, especially those who have allergies or are sensitive to it, she said.

On the other hand, dark berries, such as blueberries, contain antioxidants that can protect the whole body.

And they taste better, Mote said.

“I would be more willing to take antioxidants that are going to be good for me overall and not likely to cause me problems just to make my whole body more resistant rather than just my thyroid,” she said.

Antioxidants such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E help strengthen the body against free radicals that may change DNA and lead to future cancers, she said. And these are things that are available at Clark’s Nutrition and Natural Foods Markets.

Her advice comes as pharmacies across the state experience a run on the pills. Her pharmacy makes prescription dosage potassium iodide pills. They have experienced an increase in orders, she said.

Inland Compound Pharmacy also usually carries the lower dosage level supplement Iodoral, but like most pharmacies, they are sold out. Loma Linda stores that offer the supplements report they have gotten requests for the pill despite warnings that the radiation will not be significant enough to warrant taking the pill.

Mote suspected that people’s fears run too deep to really trust that the government will tell people in time to keep them safe. But the reality is, that the pills are very limited in what help they can offer.  And may be unnecessary.

“Iodine is very heavy,” she said. “It falls out of the air very quickly. Your major problems with radioactive iodine are going to be very close to the plant.”

On Friday, the AQMD reported that radiation levels measured at three regional sites had not detected radiation levels higher than typical “background” levels. The monitors are extremely sensitive and will detect any change in outdoor radiation levels. They will be reported on their website, www.aqmd.gov.