Iodine nutrition in pregnancy and lactation

Abstract

Adequate iodine intake is required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones that are important for normal fetal and infant neurodevelopment. In this review, we discuss iodine physiology during pregnancy and lactation, methods to assess iodine sufficiency, the importance of adequate iodine nutrition, studies of iodine supplementation during pregnancy and lactation, the consequences of hypothyroidism during pregnancy, the current status of iodine nutrition in the United States, the global efforts toward achieving universal iodine sufficiency, and substances that may interfere with iodine use.

Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Figures

Fig. 1

Conceptual models of adequate (left panel) and inadequate (right panel) iodine nutrition and thyroid function. (Adapted from Glinoer D. The importance of iodine nutrition during pregnancy. Public Health Nutr 2007;10(12A):1543; with permission.)

Fig. 2

US dietary iodine in women of childbearing age: NHANES data from 1971 to 2008. (Data from Refs.,,,)