Iodine deficiency may reduce pregnancy chances

Women with moderate to severe iodine deficiency may take longer to achieve a pregnancy, compared to women with normal iodine levels, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health.

Seafood, a natural sources of iodine. Image credit: Rafael Meirelles/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Iodine is a mineral used by the body to regulate metabolism. It also helps regulate bone growth and brain development in children. It is found in seafood, iodized salt, dairy products, and some fruits and vegetables. Severe iodine deficiency has long been known to cause intellectual and developmental delays in infants.

The findings suggest that women who are thinking of becoming pregnant may need more iodine. Iodine requirements increase during pregnancy, and the fetus depends on this mineral to make thyroid hormone and to ensure normal brain development.

Of the 467 women analyzed for the current study, iodine status was sufficient in 260 (55.7 percent), mildly deficient in 102 (21.8 percent), moderately deficient in 97 (20.8 percent) and severely deficient in eight (1.7 percent).

The researchers found that women who had moderate-to-severe iodine deficiency had a 46-percent-lower chance of becoming pregnant during each menstrual cycle, compared to women who had sufficient iodine concentrations. Women in the mildly deficient range had a smaller, statistically insignificant increase in the time it took to conceive.

Women who are concerned they may not be getting enough iodine may wish to consult their physicians before making dietary changes or taking supplements. (National Institutes of Health)

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