According to the journal Pediatrics published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, many women of childbearing age are marginally iodine deficient and should be taking a supplement containing adequate iodide but only roughly 15% actually do so.
Iodine is important because its deficiency, per se, can interfere with normal brain development in the offspring. Iodine is required to produce thyroid hormone, which has a crucial role in brain development. Thus adequate iodine is especially important in prenatal and neonatal nutrition. In addition, its deficiency increases vulnerability to the effects of certain environmental pollutants, such as nitrate, thiocyanate and perchlorate.
Iodine deficiency was widespread in the US presumably due to increased consumption of processed foods, which are prepared with non-iodized salt. It is now estimated that approximately one third of pregnant women in the US are iodine deficient.
According to the Academy, pregnant and breastfeeding women should use iodized salt and take a supplement that includes at least 150 micrograms of iodide. Combined intake from food and supplements should be 290 to 1,100 micrograms per day.
The Academy also recommends that pregnant and lactating women avoid excessive exposure to excess nitrate, which is most commonly found in cigarette smoke and contaminated well water, and thiocyanate, which is in cigarette smoke. These chemicals can exacerbate the effects of iodine deficiency.
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