Monday, August 31, 2009

Pregnant mamas: Prenatal Precaution

The American Thyroid Association recommends that pregnant and nursing mothers take a daily supplement with 150 micrograms of iodine to ensure fetuses and babies produce enough of the thyroid hormone. A deficiency may lead to mental retardation.

Think your prenatal vitamins are cutting it? Maybe not.

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, only 51 percent of prenatal vitamins contain the recommended amount of iodine. Check the ingredients on your bottle to determine if you need an additional supplement.

Pregnant women need 220 mcg of iodine to reach the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA), and nursing mothers need 290 mcg.

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