The Importance of Iodine during Pregnancy

Iodine is essential for making thyroid hormones. Adequate sup­plies of iodine are essential for the development of your baby’s brain and nervous system during the first 3 months of life in the womb. Lack of iodine leads to an underactive thyroid, which shows up after birth as a condition known as cretinism. As well as an underactive thyroid, the child’s brain cannot develop prop­erly, leading to severe mental retardation. This is a serious prob­lem in some parts of the world, including parts of Europe, New Zealand, Brazil and the Himalayas. In some areas, iodine defi­ciency affects 9 out of 10 of the population. In Indonesia, for example, there are currently an estimated 1.5 million severely mentally retarded children and 800,00 with cretinism. This is a devastating condition that is entirely preventable if expectant mothers are given injections of iodized oil – preferably during the preconceptual period. Treatment must be given before the 6th month of pregnancy, however, to protect the brain against the effects of iodine deficiency. When treatment is not given until the last 3 months of pregnancy, it does not seem to improve brain function. In the Western world, newborn babies are screened for cretinism as part of the heel prick test carried out soon after delivery.

How Much You Need

The EC RDA is 150 meg, and the UK RNI 140 meg with no extra suggested for pregnancy. US recommendations, however, suggest that requirements rise by 25 meg during pregnancy, from 150 meg to 175 meg per day.

Good Dietary Sources

- marine fish such as haddock, halibut, salmon, tuna

- seaweed (such as kelp)

- iodized salt

- milk (in many countries, cattle feed is also iodized)

- crops and cattle reared on soils exposed to sea-spray

Potential Problems

Gross iodine deficiency leading to swelling of the thyroid gland (goitre) is now rare in the UK since the introduction of iodized salt. People who restrict their salt intake and who do not eat iodine-rich foods (such as seafood) are at risk of iodine defi­ciency, however. Selenium plays a role in the metabolism of thyroid hormones, and the effects of iodine deficiency are exac­erbated by low selenium intakes.

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 15th, 2012 at 8:03 pm and is filed under Pregnancy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.