Iodised Salt

A new study shows that newborns get iodine best through breastfeeding.

A team of German researchers tested the effectiveness of the recommended methods of iodine administration at birth and found that it leaves both mother and newborn lacking in iodine.

241 breastfeeding mothers and their children were included in the study. The mothers were divided into two groups.

In the first group, the mothers were given the recommended dose of iodine within the first eight weeks of giving birth and in the second group the babies were given a vitamin supplement directly.

All the mothers and babies were then tested for iodine concentrations in their urine over the first year.

The researchers found that giving an iodine capsule to the mother was more effective than administering it to the child directly. However, both methods failed to ensure that both mother and child received the recommended dosage of iodine.

While the mother passes a significant amount of iodine to her baby through breast milk, it still does not satisfy the recommended level at iodine needed in the first year of a baby’s life.

The researchers therefore suggest that the World Health Organization’s recommendation that a one-time iodine capsule (400 mg) be taken by a breastfeeding mother, appears to be unable to raise her iodine level enough for optimum health, and so the researchers propose that mothers be given iodine in more regular and lower doses.

Iodine deficiency in infants can damage the developing brain and increase mortality. Also a severe iodine deficiency in pregnant women can cause hypothyroidism, which in turn can lead to mental retardation, neurological damage, and thyroid problems in fetuses.

Iodine is important in maintaining proper thyroid function and iodine deficiency is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation. Even moderate deficiency, especially in pregnant women and infants, is thought to lower intelligence by 10 to 15 IQ points.

(READ: Why you should take prenatal vitamins)

The good news is that these developmental problems are easy to prevent. A woman simply needs to include sufficient iodine in her diet.

Pregnant and nursing women can make sure their diet includes iodine. This can be from foods rich in iodine like dairy products, seafood, bread, and iodized salt.

According to the British Dietetic Association website, pregnant and breastfeeding women need 250 micrograms of iodine per day and other adults need 150mcg.

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