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Updated: Jul 24, 2025
03:19
Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
460
An update: maternal iodine supplementation, thyroid function tests, and child neurodevelopmental outcomes.
1Departments of Clinical Medicine, Obstetrics, and Gynecology, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Summary
Maternal iodine supplementation during pregnancy in mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency areas has unclear impacts on thyroid function and child neurodevelopment. More research is needed, as current data is mixed and excess intake is harmful.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Endocrinology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency (MMID) persists globally in pregnant populations, despite salt iodization efforts.
- Current iodine intake during pregnancy is insufficient for over half of pregnant individuals worldwide.
- Existing data on maternal iodine status and pregnancy outcomes in MMID areas are conflicting.
Conclusions:
- High-quality data supporting routine MIS in MMID areas is lacking.
- Salt iodization alone may not suffice to meet iodine requirements during pregnancy.
- Certain dietary practices increase the risk of inadequate iodine status; excess intake must be avoided.
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