Iodine supplementation during pregnancy is important to prevent miscarriages or baby developmental problems such as mental retardation. Iodine is a nutrient present, especially in algae and fish, important during pregnancy to ensure the health of the baby, especially in the formation of hormones.
The recommended amount of iodine during pregnancy is 200 to 250 mcg per day, which equates to 1 piece of salmon, 1 cup of milk, 1 egg and 2 slices of cheese, which is usually easily achieved with a regular diet. In Brazil, iodine deficiency is very rare because salt is normally enriched with iodine, which further facilitates basic recommendations.
- Iodine supplementation during pregnancy may be necessary when values are low and.
- In this case.
- It is customary to take tablets of 150 to 200 mcg of potassium iodide per day.
- In addition.
- WHO has indicated that any woman who is trying to conceive or is already pregnant should take an iodine supplement to protect the baby.
Supplementation should be prescribed by the doctor or nutritionist and may be initiated before conception and is necessary throughout pregnancy and provided that the baby’s diet is exclusively breast milk.
Iodine foods are mainly marine foods, such as seafood and seafood
Iodine salt is also one of the main forms of iodine ingestion, however, not to exceed one teaspoon per day. See more examples of iodine-rich foods.
To check if the amount of iodine is adequate during pregnancy, a urine test is necessary and iodine should be between 150 and 249 mcg/L. If the result is:
Iodine changes in the mother’s body may also be related to thyroid dysfunction, even during pregnancy, and therefore blood tests are usually done to check the functioning of thyroid hormones. For example, iodine deficiency is a major cause of hypothyroidism, which corresponds to slow thyroid function. For more information about hypothyroidism during pregnancy, see: Hypothyroidism during pregnancy.