Maternal iodine nutrition and neurodevelopment in the offspring

Abstract Iodine is an essential micronutrient required for thyroid hormone synthesis, which in turn is vital for normal growth and development. Adequate iodine nutrition is particularly important during pregnancy when fetal brain development is rapid and dependent on maternal transfer of iodine and thyroid hormone. Severe iodine deficiency in pregnancy during this critical period of brain development can cause irreversible mental retardation. There is increasing concern that mild iodine deficiency in pregnancy may also lead to subtle intellectual impairment and behavioral disorders in the offspring. As a result, universal iodine supplementation in pregnancy is widely recommended due to the reemergence of mild iodine deficiency in a number of developed counties. This chapter provides an overview of the roles of iodine and thyroid hormone in brain development, summarizes the evidence on the effect of maternal iodine nutrition during pregnancy on the neurodevelopment of the offspring, and discusses the implications for public health policy and further research.