Newswise — Researchers from the American Thyroid Association recently announced how iodized salt is an important source of dietary iodine worldwide, explaining how iodine, essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, is obtained solely through diet.
04-08-2010
To prevent thyroid conditions, such as goiter and neonatal iodine deficiency, iodized salt has been sold to consumers through supermarkets since the 1920s.
Iodine levels in people have decreased significantly by 50 percent over the past since 1980. Studies suggest that many pregnant women may be iodine deficient, and since iodine requirements increase from 50 to 100 percent during pregnancy, they recommended that decreased salt consumption must take into account the need for iodine sufficiency, especially among pregnant women and infants.
While iodine is essential for proper thyroid hormone synthesis, thyroid hormones are critical to normal infant brain development and preventing fetal neurodevelopment and neurobehavioral deficits.
Though it is true that reduced sodium consumption is better for heart health, however, it is recommended that all producers of commercially prepared use iodized salt, a step not currently practiced by commercial foods manufacturers. Any decrease in salt intake should not cause a reduction in dietary iodine intake.
The ATA officially recommends that women receive 150 µg iodine supplements daily during pregnancy and lactation and that all prenatal vitamin/mineral preparations contain 150 µg of iodine.
The published recommendation can be found at the ATA http://www.thyroid.org/professionals/education/pregnancy.html.
Source and thanks to Newswise Daily Wire.
