The iodine deficit duringthe pregnancylowers the IQ of children. This is how resounding are the conclusions reached by researchers belonging to theNutrimenthe project, which highlights, once again, the importance of food during pregnancy.
Although many people associate the lack of iodine with countries with limited economic resources, the reality is very different. According to the latest reports, two thirds of women in the United Kingdom, where the study was carried out, suffered from this problem, especially when they were of childbearing age.
To see how this deficit affected the development of the child, the researcherstook urine samples from more than 10,000 pregnant women and tested their iodine levels. Years later, they assessed children’s intellectual abilities and cognitive abilities at eight and nine years of age.
After crossing the results they verified thatAt eight years of age there are three points of difference in the IQ of young childrenborn to mothers with low iodine concentrations in the first months of pregnancy compared to those who had iodine above the recommended minimum.
To ensure that women have iodine levels within the recommended limits, experts recommend introducing it naturally into the body, that is, through a diet rich in seafood, dairy and fish. They have also discouraged the use of supplements or algae with too much iodine to avoid thyroid problems. Through the British Dietetic Association, the authors have recommended a daily intake of iodine during pregnancy and lactation of 250 μg / day, compared to 150 μg / day that the rest of adults should ingest.
