Already a member? Login

312,093 Members and growing Join Now for FREE

Why Join Blackmores?

Discover all of the features available to members only, including interactive tools, community participation and a free welcome gift.

Watch a quick video

Members Wellbeing Goals

What do you want to achieve? Motivate yourself and others to better health.

less carbs, less grains rebecca, SA

Be healthier Nardine, WA

Loose weight, age healthy. Sue, NSW

2 FINALLY reach my first 'stepping stone' goal Heidi, QLD

Lose weight and have more energy Debbie, NSW

Set your goal Prev | Next

Hot topics

Join health discussions, share experiences and get wellbeing tips and advice. Start a discussion now.

View all

Get smart: Iodine supplementation a must in pregnancy

Posted by: Stephanie Hamilton (Fertility, Pregnancy)
29 June 2011

Was this helpful?

Get smart: Iodine supplementation a must in pregnancy

Did you know that iodine deficiency is the leading global cause of preventable brain damage?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports iodine deficiency is a worldwide problem affecting two billion people, including almost three hundred million children.

Australian and New Zealand women are severely deficient in iodine, putting our future children at risk of a variety of mental and physical disorders. Iodine is crucial in pregnancy for the proper development of the brain and nervous system of the fetus.

Moderate to severe iodine deficiency in pregnant women can result in fetal loss or irreversible brain damage. This brain damage includes a range of neuro-developmental disorders from loss of IQ to neurological cretinism in the most extreme form. Even mild iodine deficiency in utero or during infancy may cause similar but more subtle neuro-developmental disorders.

The Australian Thyroid Foundation (ATF) has an important health message: “Get Smart - Protect Your Baby’s Brain”. The ATF strongly advocate iodine supplementation in pregnancy and breastfeeding to prevent mental disorders and brain damage in your baby. They state that seafood, bread, dairy and iodised salt intake cannot possibly cover the daily intake of iodine in women during childbearing.

According to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHRMC) the RDI for iodine in adults and children is 150 micrograms a day. The WHO recommends 250 micrograms per day in pregnancy and lactation and suggests supplementation for these women to ensure their needs are met.

Something so simple as supplementing with iodine can prevent several serious mental disorders in your baby. With our soil so deficient in this mineral and endemic deficiency seen in our population as a result, this is an example where supplementation is strongly recommended by all healthcare professionals. Especially in child bearing years.

Have you taken your iodine supplement today?

References available on request

Comment

Name: *

Gender:

Male Female

Email Address: *

Comment:

I have read and agree to Blackmores Terms of use

* Your post may appear online after a member of the Blackmores Online Team has reviewed it.

Notification

Your post is pending approval

Your post has been sent to a Blackmores Administrator for approval as it contains words or phrases that may not comply with our Posting Guidelines and Terms of Service. A Blackmores Administrator will review your post to determine whether or not it can be published.

You will be notified via email when your post is published or if it has been declined.

For further information about what can and can't be discussed within the Blackmores Community, please view our Terms of Service and Posting Guidelines.