title: Iodine supplementation during pregnancy: a public health challenge.
abstract: Iodine deficiency remains the most frequent cause worldwide, after starvation, of preventable mental retardation in children. It causes maternal hypothyroxinemia, which affects pregnant women even in apparently iodine-sufficient areas, and often goes unnoticed because L-thyroxine (T4) levels remain within the normal range, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is not increased. Even a mild hypothyroxinemia during pregnancy increases the risk of neurodevelopmental abnormalities, and experimental data clearly demonstrate that it damages the cortical cytoarchitecture of the fetal brain. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) recommends a supplement of 150 microg iodine/day during pregnancy and lactation, in addition to the use of iodized salt. We discuss the importance of iodine supplementation to ensure adequate T4 levels in all women who are considering conception and throughout pregnancy and lactation.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández and Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, 03550, Alicante, Spain. pere.berbel@umh.es
authors.forename: Pere
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berbel
authors.forename: María Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Obregón
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernal
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Escobar del Rey
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morreale de Escobar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000172:deficiency*; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011634:Public Health; D012377:Rodentia; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D014131:Trace Elements; C034024:iodized salt; D007455:Iodine