Controlled trials on infant neurodevelopment were lacking ; gestational iodine supplementation reduced maternal thyroid volume and serum thyroglobulin and in some studies prevented a rise in serum thyroid-stimulating hormone .
Iodine supplementation improves some maternal thyroid indices and may benefit aspects of cognitive function in school-age children , even in marginally iodine-deficient areas .
BACKGROUND Although the detrimental effects of severe iodine deficiency are well recognised , the benefits of correcting mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency are uncertain .
OBJECTIVES We undertook a systematic review of the impact of iodine supplementation in population s with mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency .
The impact of iodine supplementation and bread fortification on urinary iodine concentrations in a mildly iodine deficient population of pregnant women in South Australia
Mild iodine deficiency during pregnancy can have significant effects on fetal development and future cognitive function . The purpose of this study was to characterise the iodine status of South Australian women during pregnancy and relate it to the use of iodine-containing multivitamins . The impact of fortification of bread with iodized salt was also assessed . Women ( n = 196 ) were recruited prospect ively at the beginning of pregnancy and urine collected at 12 , 18 , 30 , 36 weeks gestation and 6 months postpartum . The use of a multivitamin supplement was recorded at each visit . Spot urinary iodine concentrations ( UIC ) were assessed . Median UICs were within the mildly deficient range in women not taking supplements ( < 90 μg/L ) . Among the women taking iodine-containing multivitamins  UICs were within WHO recommendations ( 150–249 μg/L ) for sufficiency and showed an increasing trend through gestation . The fortification of bread with iodized salt  increased the median UIC from 68 μg/L to 84 μg/L ( p = .011 ) which was still in the deficient range . Pregnant women in this region of Australia were unlikely to reach recommended iodine levels without an iodine supplement , even after the m and atory iodine supplementation of bread was instituted in October 2009
Controlled trials on infant neurodevelopment were lacking ; gestational iodine supplementation reduced maternal thyroid volume and serum thyroglobulin and in some studies prevented a rise in serum thyroid-stimulating hormone .
Iodine supplementation improves some maternal thyroid indices and may benefit aspects of cognitive function in school-age children , even in marginally iodine-deficient areas .
BACKGROUND Although the detrimental effects of severe iodine deficiency are well recognised , the benefits of correcting mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency are uncertain .
OBJECTIVES We undertook a systematic review of the impact of iodine supplementation in population s with mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency .