Iodine deficiency is the leading cause of preventable intellectual disability worldwide, according to a new viewpoint published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (2012;308(23):2463-2464. DOI:10.1001/jama.2012.45423). The authors emphasized that if more pregnant women supplemented with iodine, it could help prevent negative health implications for both themselves and their children.
Elizabeth Pearce, M.D., MSc, associate professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and co-author of the study, stated: ‘There is concern that even mild iodine deficiency in pregnant women could lead to children with lower IQs.’ Other risks include maternal and fetal goiter, increased pregnancy loss, and infant mortality. Iodine must be consumed through foods or supplements. National and international health organizations recommend that pregnant women take at least 150 µg of potassium iodide daily. However, many prenatal multivitamins sold do not contain iodine. Alex Stagnaro-Green, M.D., MHPE, professor of medicine and obstetrics and gynecology at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) and co-author, asserted: ‘Every prenatal vitamin in the United States should have iodine supplementation.’ Despite public health advances over the past 30 years, iodine deficiency currently affects 1.92 billion people globally. Iodine is necessary for thyroid hormone production, and dietary requirements increase during pregnancy due to heightened thyroid hormone production, renal iodine losses, and fetal needs. Requirements remain elevated during lactation due to iodine concentration in breast milk. Stagnaro-Green added: ‘Iodine levels in the United States have been decreasing, which has the potential to negatively impact the mother and unborn child. It’s time for all health care professionals to ensure that every pregnant and breast-feeding woman gets supplemental iodine.’ An April 2012 CDC report found that women aged 20 to 39 had the lowest iodine levels among any female age group.
