Prenatal Vitamins & Iodine

Iodine can be found in seafood, dairy products, some vegetables and iodized salt, but for individuals who limit these foods or who consume specialty salts that haven't been iodized, such as sea salt, iodine deficiencies are possible. In the United States, such deficiencies are rare, but because their consequences can be deadly to a developing baby, ensuring enough iodine intake in pregnant women is a public health concern.

Iodine in Pregnancy

Iodine is important for normal fetal brain development. According to Baby Center, iodine is the biggest cause of brain damage in children worldwide. Women who don't get enough iodine during pregnancy may also be at increased risk for miscarriage, stillbirth and preterm delivery. Mild deficiencies and insufficiencies not severe enough to be labeled a true deficiency may be linked to the development of ADHD in the child. During pregnancy, a woman needs about 220 mcg of iodine a day. The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements indicates that while most pregnant women in the U.S. are not deficient in iodine, up to 49 percent may have insufficient level, as indicated by urinary iodine concentrations of 150 mcg per liter or lower.

Iodine in Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal vitamins may be an important source of iodine for women who might be at risk for deficiency. In a 2009 investigation mentioned in the article, "Dietary Iodine: Why are so Many Mothers not Getting Enough?," states that out of 223 prenatal vitamin supplements sold in the U.S., 49 percent of the supplements sold did not contain any iodine. In some cases, the supplements that did contain iodine had up to 50 percent less than the amount stated on the label.

Hypertension

Iodized salt is the main source of iodine in the American diet, but pregnant women may decrease salt intake for fears of hypertension. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 recommends 2,300 mg of salt or less per day as the maximum intake for healthy adults and 1,500 mg per day for those at high risk for hypertension. Hypertension during pregnancy can lead to ecclampsia, which is dangerously high blood pressure that may cause seizures and death in a pregnant woman. However, a pregnant woman should discuss with her doctor how to balance the appropriate level of salt intake and the increased need for iodine supplementation if she reduces sodium intake.

Recommendations

In 2004, the American Thyroid Association recommended that pregnant women take prenatal vitamins with at least 150 mcg of iodine in order to supplement dietary sources and ensure adequate intake. Additional iodine supplementation may be necessary if the mother has specific dietary restrictions, such as a pregnant woman on a strict low-salt vegan diet.