Iodine in your pregnancy diet: why it's important

Iodine plays a vital role in regulating your thyroid gland. The thyroid hormones help your body to function properly.

Iodine is particularly important for pregnant and breastfeeding women. An iodine deficiency in pregnancy can affect your health, as well as your baby's mental and physical development.

Why do I need iodine during pregnancy?

Iodine is a mineral that your body uses to make thyroid hormones.

The thyroid hormones help your body to make energy and ensure that the organs function properly. They also regulate your body temperature, fertility, blood cell production and nerve and muscle functions.

Your body needs more iodine during pregnancy, and to meet the demands of your growing baby. Iodine is essential for the healthy development of your baby's brain and nervous system.

It also regulates your baby's metabolism (the rate at which the body uses energy) and thyroid function. Your developing baby is entirely dependent on your thyroid hormone, so it's crucial that your levels are right.

When your baby is born, she relies on your breastmilk to get the iodine she needs to make her own thyroid hormones. That’s why it’s important for breastfeeding women to get enough iodine, too.

What happens if I don’t get enough iodine in pregnancy?

If you’re not getting enough iodine, your baby’s brain and nervous system might not develop properly.

Depending on when in your pregnancy, and how low your iodine levels are, iodine deficiency increases the risk of:

• you and your baby developing an enlarged thyroid (goitre) or an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• you developing gestational hypertension (high blood pressure) and pre-eclampsia
• placental problems, including placental abruption
• miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth and infant death
• your baby having low birth weight or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
• your child having birth defects or hearing and speech problems.
• your child having a reduced IQ or experiencing learning disabilities and developmental problems

Some studies also suggest that iodine deficiency during pregnancy may be associated with autism and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder.

If your iodine levels are extremely low, your baby’s physical and mental growth may be severely stunted. Underactivity of the thyroid gland at birth is known as congenital hypothyroidism (cretinism).

How much iodine do I need when I'm pregnant?

It is recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding mums get about 250mcg (micrograms) of iodine daily.

This doesn’t sound like much, but most foods contain very small amounts of iodine so it can be hard to get this from food sources alone.

Your doctor will assess your health and decide what's the right dosage for you.

What are the signs that I’m iodine deficient?

Signs that you’re not getting enough iodine include:

• an enlarged thyroid gland (goitre)
• fatigue and exhaustion
• weakness
• muscle cramps
• constipation
• depression
• intolerance to cold
• weight gain
• dry skin
• brittle nails
• hair loss
• a puffy or swollen face
• a hoarse voice

It can be difficult to tell if you’ve got an iodine deficiency, because some of the symptoms seem like things that normally happen when you’re pregnant. So it's always a good idea to mention them to your doctor.

How is iodine deficiency diagnosed?

To detect an iodine deficiency, a blood test known as the thyroid function test is done. It checks your Free T3, Free T4, and TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) levels.

Sometimes a 24-hour urine collection test (called a random iodine-to-creatinine urine test) is done to check for an iodine deficiency.

How is iodine deficiency treated?

If you are found to have an iodine deficiency, your condition will need close monitoring.

Your doctor will suggest you include iodised salt in your diet and follow a healthy and varied diet.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, your doctor may also recommend supplements to ensure that you and your baby are getting enough iodine. You should let your doctor know if you have a pre-existing thyroid condition. If you are a vegan, vegetarian or have specific dietary restrictions share it with your doctor.

She'll need to take all these things into account when prescribing any prenatal supplements.

Always follow your doctor's advice and recommended dosage, as medication may vary from case to case.

You should also check with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter supplements or herbal preparations. Some preparations may not be safe during pregnancy.

What are good sources of iodine?

Iodine is naturally found in seawater and soil. Common sources of dietary iodine include:

• iodised salt
• dairy products
• eggs (well cooked)
  
• salt water fish and seafood
• meat
• seaweed
• fortified bread
  

Fruits, vegetables, cereals and pulses also contain iodine, but the amount varies based on the soil and water of the area where they are cultivated.

Soil in mountainous and hilly regions has the lowest iodine content, whereas coastal area soils have a high iodine content.

The iodine levels in the soil can also be affected by deforestation, flooding or heavy rainfall.

Is iodised salt the best way to get iodine in my diet?

In general, the soil of the Indian subcontinent tends to have less iodine, so the Indian population is prone to iodine deficiency.

However, using iodised salt is the most practical way to include iodine in your diet. Making iodised salt part of your everyday cooking ensures that your daily dose of iodine is taken care of.

Keep in mind that iodine in salt may be lost if not stored properly. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and moisture can destroy the iodine content in salt. It would help if you store iodised salt in glass or plastic airtight containers in a dry place away from sunlight. Always check the manufacturing and use-by dates.

If you suffer from high blood pressure or any other health problems that restrict salt in your diet, talk to your doctor. She can recommend an alternative source of iodine.

Contrary to popular belief, sea salt and pink salt doesn’t always contain iodine. If you'd like to use sea salt and pink salt instead of iodised salt, speak to your doctor first.


Read this article in Hindi: गर्भावस्था में आयोडीन क्यों जरुरी है


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