In my opinion, iodine is one of the most important nutrients needed for pregnancy.
In this video, I'm going to explain why it's so important, and how to ensure that you're
getting the right amount.
Stay tuned!
Hello! If this is our first time connecting, welcome!
My name is Melanie McGrice and I'm a pre and postnatal dietitian.
I help couples give their baby's the best start possible with the power of good food.
Make sure you connect with me on my socials... you'll find all the details in the description
box below this video.
So, what is iodine and why is it so important during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, iodine maintains normal functioning of your thyroid gland.
The thyroid gland is a gland in your neck that regulates your baby's metabolism and
is essential for the development of his or her growing brain and nervous system.
Research suggests that the requirement of iodine during pregnancy increases as a result
of at least three factors: 1) an increased amount of thyroid hormones (which contain
iodine) are required during pregnancy so that you can maintain a healthy metabolism;
2) during pregnancy you provide thyroid hormones to your baby consequently increasing your
need for additional iodine; and 3) you'll lose more iodine during pregnancy.
It is because of these three factors, the recommended dietary intake of iodine during
pregnancy is increased from 150 mcg/day to 250 mcg/day.
Achieving a sufficient iodine status is particularly important in the first 14-16 weeks of pregnancy
as your baby is entirely dependent on you for its supply of thyroid hormone at this time.
A true deficiency of iodine during pregnancy has been associated with cretinism - a condition
of severely stunted physical and mental growth.
However, this is rare.
But, even slightly low iodine levels are problematic during pregnancy.
You see, slightly low iodine levels have also been associated with poorer learning abilities
in your baby's, making it a key nutrient during pregnancy.
For example, an Australian study measured mother's urinary iodine concentrations during pregnancy.
On follow up, at 9 years old, children whose mother's had low levels of iodine were found
to have 10% lower results spelling, 7% lower results in grammar and 5% lower results
in English-literacy.
A similar study from the UK also found that children born to mothers with lower iodine
levels were more likely to have IQ scores in the bottom 25%.
This highlights the importance of ensuring pregnant Mum's are optimising their iodine
intake during pregnancy.
Iodine is found in a wide range of foods that come from the soil and sea, such as fish,
fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
In iodine-deficient countries, such as Australia and America, it is recommended that pregnant
mother's supplement their diet with at least 150mcg iodine per day.
Supplementation should generally not exceed 500mcg/day during pregnancy.
Additionally, women with pre-existing thyroid disease (such as autoimmune Hashimoto's disease,
Graves' disease, nontoxic thyroid nodules, history of partial thyroidectomy, and other
conditions) are susceptible to adverse effects of excess iodine intake and exposure and should
have iodine supplement advice personally tailored based on dietary intake and biochemistry.
Kelp (or seaweed) contains a concentrated source of iodine, and salt is often fortified with iodine, so
if you're consuming a lot of these foods, you may need to double check that you're not
having too much.
The best idea of course, is to speak to a prenatal dietitian.
If you have any questions, please type them in the chat box below, but given the importance
of iodine intake during pregnancy, I'd highly recommend that you get personalised advice from a prenatal
dietitian.
I'll include the contact details of my team and I in the description box below this video.
For more dietary tips for giving your baby a head start in life, make sure you click
the subscribe button, and I'll look forward to seeing you in my next video!