Giving U.K. expectant mothers iodine supplements can help boost their child's IQ as well as save thousands of pounds in healthcare costs, a new study appearing in The Lancet stated.
Since a randomized trial for the study is not feasible due to ethical concerns, University of Birmingham researchers mapped out a model to find out how cost-effective it will be if pregnant women in the United Kingdom take iodine supplements.
For the study, the researchers looked at how beneficial a universal provision of iodine would be to the National Health Service (NHS) for the whole duration of the pregnancy.
The study also looked at how IQ levels in children will be improved if they received adequate levels of iodine and how this can have an impact in lifetime earnings and the society.
The researchers then studied the effects of giving iodine supplementation in developing fetal brains and converted these into IQ points.
They then estimate that the benefits are equivalent to 1.22 IQ points for each child. The NHS would also benefit almost £200 and the society would save up to £4,476 for every child, as reported in The Telegraph.
As a conclusion, the researchers said that enough iodine levels cannot be met through proper diet alone and the results of the study only proves the benefits of giving universal iodine supplementation for pregnant mothers.
"Our results strengthen the case for universal iodine supplementation of all women before and during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding in mild-to-moderate iodine deficient countries," the authors concluded of their study.
Iodine is not naturally produced in the body, which is why eating iodine-rich foods and taking iodine supplements are important in meeting the daily requirement, which is 250mcg for pregnant women.
Iodine during pregnancy plays a vital role in the development of fetal brain and nervous system. In developing nations, severe iron deficiency is one of the main causes of neurological damage.
