Iodine deficiency is the most important preventable cause of brain damage worldwide. During pregnancy, severe
iodine deficiency causes
endemic cretinism, whereas mild-to-moderate
iodine deficiency impairs neurocognitive function of the offspring. Numerous reports demonstrate the impact of
iodine supplementation on prevention of
cretinism, and recent studies evaluate the effects of
iodine prophylaxis on neurocognitive development in children of women with mild-to-moderate
iodine deficiency.
Iodine prophylaxis is generally well tolerated without side effects for the pregnant women and the offspring. In France, the
iodine status was recently considered as satisfactory in children and adult population, but regional studies conducted during the last two decades have shown that healthy women are mild-to-moderately
iodine deficient during pregnancy. According to recent World Heath Organization guidelines, systematic
iodine prophylaxis is recommended in women planning a pregnancy, during gestation and lactation in order to prevent maternal, neonatal and infantile consequences of mild-to-moderate
iodine deficiency.