A lack of iodine, which is found in milk, yoghurt and oily fish, during pregnancy affects a child's IQ
Pregnant women who drink organic milk risk harming their child's brain development.
A lack of iodine, which is found in milk, yoghurt and oily fish, but less so in organic milk, during pregnancy affects a child's IQ, a study has found.
Children born to women who are deficient in the mineral were found to be 60 per cent more likely to have low IQ scores and poor reading ability by the ages of eight and nine, researchers claim.
The results could affect grades achieved at GCSE and A level because children are not reaching ‘their full potential’, they said.
The study is the first to look at pregnant women who were mild or moderately deficient in iodine, which is essential to the development of an unborn baby’s brain.
The substance helps produce the hormones made by the thyroid gland, which have a direct effect on foetal development.
Severe deficiency is known to lead to cretinism – a medical term for retardation.
Although milk and dairy products are good sources of iodine, supplying more than 40 per cent of dietary intake, researchers fear many pregnant women shun them in pursuit of a low fat diet – even though the iodine content of skimmed milk is the same as the full-fat version.
Researchers from Surrey and Bristol Universities measured iodine in urine samples taken in the first three months of pregnancy from 1,040 women.
IMPORTANCE OF IODINE
Pregnant and breastfeeding women need about 250mg of iodine a day.
The best sources of iodine are milk, yoghurt and fish.
So, pregnant women need to consume two portions of fish a week and three portions of dairy a day.
However, organic milk contains less iodine than non-organic milk.
It is recommended that pregnant women take supplements containing 140mg of iodine.
Two thirds were assessed as iodine deficient. Their children were significantly more likely to have low scores in verbal IQ, reading accuracy and reading comprehension tests compared with women whose iodine levels met international standards.
Overall, children born to women with the least iodine had a 60 per cent higher risk of lower scores in the tests, a report published in The Lancet medical journal revealed.
Study founder Professor Jean Golding said it was likely this lack of achievement would continue throughout a child’s education.
Those who were unable to ‘achieve their full potential’ might expect lower exam grades.
Professor Margaret Rayman, who led the project, said women needed to increase their iodine intake.
Children born to women who are deficient in the mineral are 60 per cent more likely to have low IQ scores and poor reading ability by the ages of eight and nine
‘Our results clearly show the importance of adequate iodine status during early pregnancy, and emphasise the risk that iodine deficiency can pose to the developing infant, even in a country classified as only mildly iodine deficient,’ she said.
Co-author Dr Sarah Bath said those planning a pregnancy and breastfeeding mothers should make sure their diets contained a good natural supply of iodine. Although salt contains iodine in many other countries, it is not routinely added in the UK.
She warned against taking kelp supplements as they may have excessive levels of iodine, which can be harmful.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2328815/Women-drink-organic-milk-pregnancy-harming-babys-IQ.html#ixzz2U8is7y2s
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