0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25 1.5 1.75 2+ Traksel (RCT) -10% 1.10 [0.55-2.21] death 13/67 13/74 Improvement, RR [CI] Treatment Control Tau​2​ = 0.00, I​2​ = 0.0%, p = 0.79 Late treatment -10% 1.10 [0.55-2.21] 13/67 13/74 10% higher risk All studies -10% 1.10 [0.55-2.21] 13/67 13/74 10% higher risk 1 iodine COVID-19 study c19early.org February 2026 Tau​2​ = 0.00, I​2​ = 0.0%, p = 0.79 Effect extraction pre-specified(most serious outcome) Favors iodine Favors control
Recent:
Traksel.
Feb 2
 Traksel et al., PLOS One, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0341126 Iodine increases pulmonary type I interferon responses and decreases covid-19 disease severity: Results from an open label randomized clinical trial
10% higher mortality (p=0.83), 34% lower ventilation (p=0.44), and 30% lower ICU admission (p=0.46). RCT 141 hospitalized COVID-19 patients showing no significant difference in mortality or ICU admission with 12.5 mg daily oral iodine for 8 days. Exploratory analysis found patients receiving iodine had significantly shorter ICU stays.