Iodine in Pregnancy: Is Salt Iodization Enough?

[Guest guest]

Iodine in Pregnancy: Is Salt Iodization Enough?

N. Pearce

Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02118

Iodine deficiency affects more than 2.2 billion individuals

worldwide (38% of the world’s population). Decreases in

maternal T4 associated with even mild iodine deficiency may

have adverse effects on the cognitive function of offspring (1, 2),

and iodine deficiency remains the leading cause of preventable

mental retardation worldwide. It has recently been suggested

that mild iodine deficiencymayalso be associated with attentiondeficit

and hyperactivity disorders in offspring (3).