Exposure of the fetus to low levels of thyroid hormones for extended periods during pregnancy can lead to irreversible brain damage and potential delays in neurological and behavioral development. What are the exact mechanisms behind this abnormality, and can prompt initiation of maternal iodine supplementation prevent this adverse effect?
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
de Escobar, G. M., Obregón, M. J. & del Rey F. E. Iodine deficiency and brain development in the first half of pregnancy. Public Health Nutr. 10, 1554–1570 (2007).
Berbel, P. et al. Delayed neurobehavioral development in children born to pregnant women with mild hypothyroxinemia during the first month of gestation: the importance of early iodine supplementation. Thyroid 19, 511–519 (2009).
Zimmermann, M. B. et al. Iodine supplementation improves cognition in iodine-deficient schoolchildren in Albania: a randomized, controlled, double-blind study. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 83, 108–114 (2006).
Vermiglio, F. et al. Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders in the offspring of mothers exposed to mild–moderate iodine deficiency: a possible novel iodine deficiency disorder in developed countries. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 89, 6054–6060 (2004).
WHO Secretariat. Prevention and control of iodine deficiency in pregnant and lactating women and in children less than 2 years old: conclusions and recommendations of the Technical Consultation. Public Health Nutr. 10, 1606–1611 (2007).
Haddow, J. E. et al. Maternal thyroid deficiency during pregnancy and subsequent neuropsychological development of the child. N. Engl. J. Med. 341, 549–555 (1999).
Casey, B. M. et al. Subclinical hypothyroidism and pregnancy outcomes. Obstet. Gynecol. 105, 239–245 (2005).
Pop, V. J. et al. Low maternal free thyroxine concentrations during early pregnancy are associated with impaired psychomotor development in infancy. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf.) 50, 149–155 (1999).
Lee, R. H. et al. Free T4 immunoassays are flawed during pregnancy. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 200, 260.e1–260.e6 (2009).
Laurberg, P. et al. Evaluating iodine deficiency in pregnant women and young infants—complex physiology with a risk of misinterpretation. Public Health Nutr. 10, 1547–1552 (2007).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The author declares no competing financial interests.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Laurberg, P. Thyroid hormones, iodine and the brain—an important concern. Nat Rev Endocrinol 5, 475–476 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2009.155
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2009.155
This article is cited by
-
Association of Salt Iodization and Urine Iodine Concentration in Schoolchildren from Public Schools in Northeast of Brazil
Biological Trace Element Research (2021)
-
Serum Trace Element Profiles, Prolactin, and Cortisol in Transient Ischemic Attack Patients
Biological Trace Element Research (2016)
-
Thyrotropin and Alzheimer’s Disease Risk in the Elderly: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Molecular Neurobiology (2016)
-
Schilddrüsenerkrankungen und Schwangerschaft
Der Internist (2010)
