Do you know that almost one in two U.S. women may have a mild iodine deficiency?
This mineral is vital for metabolic regulation, and iodine deficiency disorders may have grave consequences on fertility, as recent research has shown.
Seafood, iodized salt, dairy, and some other fruits and vegetables contain iodine predominantly. But still many women are deficient in it because of their diet which may pose problems when trying to get pregnant.
Understanding Iodine Deficiency
Iodine deficiency means that enough iodine, especially the one needed to create the thyroid hormones, is not assimilated by the body. This hormone has numerous roles to include the growth of the body and all processes where an increase in the metabolism of the body is involved.
Without consuming food that has any iodine content, the thyroid glands will not have enough material to control the secretion of the thyroid hormones thus leading to conditions like an enlargement of the thyroid gland, loss of the thyroid hormone known as cretinism, and severe retardation.
Iodine deficiency is quite more in women especially when they want to conceive and during the pregnancy periods hence it calls for normal intake of iodine in the body to support conception.
The Vital Role of Iodine
The correct and complete iodine intake is necessary for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland and enhances health.
The World Health Organization, WHO recommends that pregnant women consume not less than 150 micrograms and later, while lactating women consume 220 micrograms daily. Proper iodine intake reduces the likelihood of developing many health issues, that is, goiter, hypothyroidism and mental retardation.
In relation to women, there is a need to have iodine in the body because a deficiency of this micronutrient could lead to problems related to childbirth and conception making it very important to be informed and undertake prevention measures at the same time.
Causes and Risk Factors
Insufficient iodine levels can result from many causes, for example, a poor diet, ectopic pregnancies, or depletion of iodine from the system by the kidney.
There are risk factors that enhance the chances of being iodine deficient for instance, lip location to regions where iodine salt is not commonly used, following a vegan vegetarian diet, having a family history of predisposition to thyroid disorders, pregnancy or breastfeeding and family history of iodine deficiency. Knowing these risk factors may assist in taking preventive actions on avoiding being deficient in iodine.
Symptoms and Effects on Fertility
Those who suffer from iodine deficiency experience fatigue, weight issues, dry skin or hair loss, intolerance to cold weather, and constipation among other things. These symptoms of iodine deficiency in women are not only limited to general health but also extend to fertility and pregnancy.
For instance, it can lead to the delay of conception, miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm delivery, or low weight of the infant at birth. It is important to note these symptoms and their consequences on reproductive health to be able to act on it in time.
Diagnosing Iodine Deficiency
To diagnose iodine deficiency, UIC tests, TFTs, TSH tests, FT4, and FT3 are performed among other tests. The provider may also engage in a physical examination and evaluate the patient’s health records to determine the presence of iodine deficiency.
It is very important for the prevention of the negative consequences of iodine deficiency for one’s health and fertility to identify this condition and manage it as early as possible.
Research Findings on Iodine Deficiency
Alarming findings, as some of the women who focused on becoming pregnant were surveyed and the study counted 467 American women. Women with moderate iodine deficiency had 46% lower likelihood of achieving pregnancy during every course of the menstrual cycle compared to women who had sufficient iodine status. So did iodine deficient women, which had mild iodine deficiency.
This study was conducted by the United States National Institute of Child Health And Human Development’s Dr. James Mills together with New York State Department Of Health. Women who plan to get pregnant may have to think of increasing her iodine intake in order to enhance the odds of getting pregnant, explains Dr. Mills.
Dietary Changes and Recommendations for Iodine Intake
Diet-related changes in nutritional patterns, particularly the increase in the number of vegetarians and vegans over the past decades, led to the decreased intake of iodine. This was explained by Dr. Tomer Singer, Director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Care at New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital.
The American Thyroid Association indicates that women who wish to conceive should supplement with 150 micrograms of iodine per day along with their prenatal vitamins. Ensuring that women are iodine sufficient is crucial, as studies have shown that those classified as iodine sufficient have higher pregnancy rates compared to those who are iodine deficient or have excess iodine levels.
Such supplements can ideally be taken at least three months before conception and should be continued throughout the pregnancy and lactating phase.
Study Implications of Iodine Supplementation
The understanding creates an alliance and necessitates the personalized need to cater for iodine deficiency among women of childbearing age. The study does not establish a clear-cut cause and effect relationship between the low levels of iodine and infertility.
It also highlights the issue of iodine excess following procedures like hysterosalpingography (HSG) with oil-soluble contrast medium (OSCM), where many participants exhibited elevated urinary iodine concentrations (UIC) that were often sustained for months. This indicates a complex relationship between iodine status and fertility outcomes.
It offers strong evidence that increasing iodine levels could improve the outcome of pregnancies. In regions where iodine deficiency disease is widespread, efforts to enhance the iodine uptake at a population level may also be warranted. Additionally, the impact of low urinary iodine concentrations on fertility is significant, as it is associated with delayed conception in women. Population-based studies suggest that adequate iodine levels are crucial for optimal fertility.
Conclusion
Iodine is particularly important for women who want to have a baby. This mineral is important for producing thyroid hormones and for the growth of the brain of the fetus. Research shows that women with normal iodine levels have a higher likelihood of becoming pregnant compared to those with moderate to severe iodine deficiency. The findings also highlight the need for raising awareness regarding the role of iodine in fertility and other aspects of reproductive health.
For example, it may only be necessary to ensure sufficient intake of iodine in order to improve fertility and promote the healthy course of pregnancy either through diet or supplementation with capsules.
Journal Information
This study was published in Human Reproduction on January 11, 2018.
Additional Resources
For further reading, you can explore the American Thyroid Association's resources on iodine deficiency and its implications for pregnancy and fertility.
