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Lack of iodine affects kids' IQ
[Posted: Wed 02/08/2006 - www.irishhealth.com]
By Deborah Condon
Some Irish women are at risk of having children with a lower IQ and/or attention problems because they are not getting enough iodine in their diet, the preliminary results of a new study have warned.
According to a team of researchers at University College Dublin (UCD), Irish women of childbearing age are simply not consuming enough iodine. This could harm the development of their unborn foetus and impact on the IQ of their children 'and on the incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)'.
A developing foetus does not possess a functioning thyroid gland until 13 - 15 weeks gestation. It relies solely on the presence of the mother's thyroid hormones to ensure 'neuropsychological development'. In turn, the availability of these hormones is dependent on an adequate supply of iodine in the diet of the pregnant mother.
Iodine is found in iodised salt (table salt with iodine added), seafood (shellfish, white deep water fish), dairy products and some vegetables.
The researchers looked at 54 women attending the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street. All of the women were in the first trimester of their pregnancies. The researchers also measured the iodine content of dairy milk on sale in Dublin at the time.
The results revealed that dietary intake of iodine by Irish women is significantly less than the level recommended by the World Health Organisation. This is a greater problem in the summer months when available iodine in food sources such as dairy milk is at its lowest.
The lead researchers, Dr Peter Smyth of UCD and Prof Colm O'Herlihy of Holles Street, had carried out similar studies in the mid-1990s and the current findings show that since then, iodine intake by women of childbearing age has declined.
They noted that iodised salt is the primary dietary source of iodine and many countries have introduced systems of either voluntary or mandatory universal salt iodisation (USI).
However Ireland and the UK are at the bottom of the USI table, with iodised salt making up just 3.3% of all salt sold here. In many other countries worldwide, 60 - 90% of households use iodised salt. As a result, the availability of iodine in the Irish diet is 'entirely opportunistic' and based on dietary preference for iodine containing foods, such as seafood.
"While there is as yet no available evidence of widespread under active thyroid function in the Irish obstetric population, the findings are a cause of concern. If confirmed by a more comprehensive investigation, this may indicate a need to increase the dietary iodine supply to both pregnant women and those of childbearing age", said Dr Smyth.
This investigation is ongoing. The preliminary results are published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science.
For more information on pregnancy, see our Pregnancy Clinic at...
http://www.irishhealth.com/clin/pregnancy/
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Anonymous
Posted:
02/08/2006 18:47 |
| Yet Irish doctors do not recommend vitamin and mineral supplements during pregnancy... |
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Mo Posted:
10/08/2006 22:55 |
| well...I said that years ago! I have multi nodular goitre which appeared just after my son was born some 20 odd years ago..who has adhd! |
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Maggie B. Posted:
11/08/2006 09:24 |
| Kind of an obvious one - women's thyroiud glads should be checked during pegnancy and as a sufferer with an underactive thyroid for amny yeatrs I would go as far as to say all women of childbearign age should be checked to see if their thyroid is fully funcitoning, even if they are on the pill or other contraceptive. |
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