Most pregnant or breastfeeding women need to take iodine supplements, according to a new policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The statement claims that a third of all pregnant women in the U.S have iodine deficiency. Severe iodine deficiency in the mother has been linked to miscarriages, stillbirth, preterm delivery and cognitive problems in babies.
Table salt contains adequate amount of iodine. However, women who are of the reproductive age are consuming large amounts of junk food that doesn't contain enough iodine, according to Dr. Jerome Paulson, a pediatrician at the Children's National Health System and chairman of the AAP's council on environmental health.
"The brain development issues are very subtle and are not likely to be noticed in an individual child," Paulson explained, according to nbc. "It's an issue for society as a whole when you have a large number of children who are not reaching their full potential."
Adults require around 150 mcg of iodine daily, whereas pregnant and lactating women need 220 to 290 mcg of iodine, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements.
According to the report, at least one in three women in the U.S. has mild iodine deficiency. However, just 15 percent of these women take supplements to raise their iodine levels.
The American Thyroid Association and other groups have already issued statements urging women to monitor their iodine intake, Wall Street Journal reported.
"Women who are childbearing age need to pay attention to this topic as well, because about half of the pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned," Paulson told Reuters. "Women in the early part of the pregnancy may not realize they're pregnant."
AAP also recommended that infants should not be exposed to cigarette smoke or drinking water with excess nitrate.
Taking too much iodine could also lead to several problems. Please consult a physician before using any iodine supplements.