The Thyroid Research Group in Cardiff, United Kingdom recently published a study in the European Journal of Endocrinology on the impact of iodine supplements on maternal and newborn health when iodine deficiency was diagnosed. According to the study results, supplementation has positive effects on both mother and child.

The research group pulled relevant data from the Cochrane Library and Medline. Seventeen studies passed the grading and eligibility protocols. Nine studies were controlled and eight were observational. None of the studies provided information on neurodevelopment in infancy, but childhood development was reported. Benefits in school-age children were noted in perceptual reasoning and global cognitive index with iodine supplementation. Supplementation during pregnancy reduced thyroid volume and thyroglobulin while stopping a rise in TSH.

Conclusion: Iodine supplementation may have marked positive effects on maternal and school-age child health, but little is known about the impact on infant neurodevelopment.

Source: Taylor PN, Okosieme OE, Dayan CM, Lazarus JH. Impact of iodine supplementation in mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency: systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Endocrinol. 2013 Oct 2.