SILVA, Filipa    SANTOS, José Agostinho. Iodine supplementation Before and during pregnancy and breastfeeding: recommendations and inference-based-medicine. []. , 29, 6, pp.403-408. ISSN 2182-5173.

In August 2013, the Portuguese Directorate General of Health published a recommendation for supplementation with potassium iodide (150-200 µg/day) before and during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This recommendation joins to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, the American Thyroid Association, and the results of observational studies. One of these studies was conducted in Portugal with 3631 pregnant women. It found a low level of urinary iodine, especially in pregnant women living in the Azores, Madeira and in the hinterland. It is believed that low urinary iodine levels reflect a low level of serum iodine. This in turn can lead to low levels of thyroid hormones and consequently neurocognitive disorders. The question arises whether iodine supplementation for these women will reduce morbidity in the fetus and the newborn related to low levels of thyroid hormones. We discuss this recommendation in the light of evidence-based and patient-oriented medicine.

: Iodine; Dietary Supplements; Pregnancy.

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