Iodine Deficiency During Pregnancy and Adverse Cognitive Effects in Offspring

Even mild deficiency in developed countries poses elevated risk.

Iodine is an important component of thyroid hormone and essential for fetal brain development. Maternal iodine intake during pregnancy must be increased by 50% because of elevated maternal and fetal thyroid production. In developing countries, gestational iodine deficiency is the leading cause of preventable mental impairment. Recent changes in iodine content in dairy products and bread in the U.K. have led to moderate iodine deficiency in adolescent girls.

Researchers examined the association between mild iodine deficiency during pregnancy and cognitive development in children among 1040 mother–child pairs enrolled in a U.K. longitudinal observational study (56% of children in the original cohort). They analyzed maternal iodine concentratio…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics