Iodine and Reproduction

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health & Human Development

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Abstract

In this prospective study, we found that serum iodide, Tg and TSH, measured at 10-14weeks gestation in Finnish pregnant women, were unrelated to risk of stillbirth. These findings are reassuring, given that Finland halted its mandatory salt iodization programme in 1986 and intakes of iodine-rich foods have steadily declined since; the Finnish population is considered iodine insufficient and pregnant women, generally, are at increased risk for iodine deficiency. Adequate iodine consumption during pregnancy remains important for prevention of conditions like congenital hypothyroidism and cretinism , but mild to moderate iodine insufficiency does not appear to be importantly related to stillbirth risk among pregnant Finnish women, according to our results. In conclusion, maternal iodine status in Finland, where mild to moderate iodine deficiency is prevalent, was not associated with risk for stillbirth in our study. TSH and Tg levels, which reflect functional iodine status, were also unrelated to stillbirth. Adequate iodine consumption during pregnancy is important to ensure adequate thyroid hormone production in the mother and fetus, but iodine status does not appear to affect risk of stillbirth. These findings provide reassurance that the degree of iodine insufficiency during pregnancy prevalent in developed countries is unlikely to increase risk of stillbirth.