Thus , regardless of study design , iodine deficiency had a substantial impact on mental development .
Several review s and meta-analyses have examined the effects of iodine on mental development .
None focused on young children , so they were incomplete in summarizing the effects on this important age group .
The current systematic review therefore examined the relationship between iodine and mental development of children 5 years old and under .
Maternal thyroid peroxidase antibodies during pregnancy: a marker of impaired child development?
Women with antibodies against the enzyme thyroid peroxidase [ TPO-Ab ; formerly microsomal antibodies ( MsAb ) ] are at particular risk for developing postpartum thyroid dysfunction ; the latter is significantly associated with postpartum depression . Although the negative effect of postpartum maternal depression on child development is well documented , the consequences of elevated titers of TPO-Ab during pregnancy and subsequent postpartum thyroid dysfunction on child development are not known . In a prospect i ve study of a cohort of 293 pregnant women , the occurrence of TPO-Ab during gestation , thyroid dysfunction , and depression was investigated . Five years after delivery , child development was assessed in 230 children of the original cohort using the Dutch translation of the McCarthy Scales of Children 's Abilities . Children of women with TPO-Ab during late gestation ( n = 19 , with normal thyroid function ) had significantly lower scores ( by t test ) on the McCarthy Scales of Children 's Abilities than antibody-negative women . The difference on the General Cognitive Scale , which reflects IQ scores , was substantial ( 10.5 points ; t = 2.8 ; P = 0.005 ) . After correction for possibly confounding variables , maternal TPO-Ab during gestation was found to be the most important factor related to the scores on the General Cognitive Scale ( odds ratio = 10.5 ; 95 % confidence interval = 3 - 34 ; P = 0.003 ) . We conclude that children of pregnant women who had elevated titers of TPO-Ab but normal thyroid function are at risk for impaired development
Thus , regardless of study design , iodine deficiency had a substantial impact on mental development .
Several review s and meta-analyses have examined the effects of iodine on mental development .
None focused on young children , so they were incomplete in summarizing the effects on this important age group .
The current systematic review therefore examined the relationship between iodine and mental development of children 5 years old and under .