Pregnant Women Should take Iodine Supplements: Critical for Brain Development of Baby

Many women may suffer from iodine deficiencies throughout their pregnancies, which can delay the future child's brain development, resulting in future health issues, according to a recent study.

As iodine works to stimulate thyroid hormones required for the child's brain development before and after birth, researchers are pushing for women to take iodine supplements throughout their pregnancy.

 "Women who are childbearing age need to pay attention to this topic as well, because about half of the pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned," said Dr. Jerome Paulson, chairperson of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Environmental Health and a pediatrician at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., via Reuters. "Women in the early part of the pregnancy may not realize they're pregnant."

It's recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding women take around 290 micrograms of iodine per day, according to the American Thyroid Association and the National Academy of Sciences. However, only about 15 percent of women take a supplement containing an adequate amount of iodine, according to the Academy of Pediatrics Concil on Environmental Health.

"Breastfeeding mothers should take a supplement that includes at least 150 micrograms of iodide and use iodized table salt," the Council writes.

Particularly for women who follow a vegan diet or do not eat fish, they may need to be tested for iodine deficiencies.

"Obviously iodine is critical to the fetal and child brain," added Dr. Loralei Thornburg, a pediatrician who was not involved in the story, via Reuters. "Therefore having a diet that's rich in iodine is critical."

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Pediatrics.