The need and benefits of Iodine

According to Professor Eastman, AM of the Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research at the Westmead Hospital, NSW, there is now “irrefutable evidence that iodine deficiency is widespread in Australia and New Zealand” (ref: Iodine Supplementation: The benefits for pregnant and lactating women in Australia and New Zealand ; O&G Magazine, Vol 7, No 1 Autumn 2005).

The Professor goes on to state that a health education campaign is required to make pregnant and breastfeeding women aware of the potential problems of iodine deficiency and to encourage them to take “iodine supplements to increase iodine intake by 100 to 200µg per day”.

The recently released Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand (2006) indicate that the iodine content in many foods in Australia and New Zealand is low. This combined with the change in practises in the dairy industry which has resulted in lower iodine levels in milk and a general trend away from iodised salt has seen a decline in the intakes of iodine in both Australia and New Zealand. (ref: Nutrient reference values for Australia and New Zealand, including Recommended Dietary Intakes, Australian Government Dept of Health and Ageing, National Health and Medical Research Council, 2006)

In 2005, FABFOL Plus was reformulated to include 150µg of iodine, to supplement the daily intake through dietary means.

Relevant links

The benefits for pregnant and lactating women in Aust/NZ

Iodine explained

Iodine – the benefits and role of iodine in the diet

Iodine supplementation and Thyroid

Abnormal development – Iodine deficiency