The American Thyroid Association (ATA) has championed the effort to include a daily serving of iodine in multivitamin/mineral supplements intended for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and it applauds the new guidelines released by the U.S. Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) advising manufacturers to include 150 micrograms of iodine to these daily supplements. This recommendation is based on scientific evidence that iodine is critical in early pregnancy to support fetal brain development. Pregnant and lactating women who do not get sufficient iodine in their diet may put their children at risk for decreased cognitive function.
The ATA had taken a leadership role in petitioning for a change in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, according to Alex Stagnaro-Green, M.D., Dean, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford. It coordinated the development of a joint proposal urging that iodine be included in all prenatal vitamin and mineral supplements, which was supported by five leading organizations: the Endocrine Society, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, Iodine Global Network (formerly the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders), the Teratology Society, and the ATA.
"Pregnant and breastfeeding women in the United States are at risk for mild iodine deficiency," says Dr. Stagnaro-Green. "The addition of 150 mcg of iodine in all prenatal vitamins will ensure that the developing brain of the baby during pregnancy and early infancy will have sufficient iodine to develop to its maximal potential."
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