The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) advises all dietary supplement manufacturers to include at least one daily serving of a minimum of 150 mcg of iodine in all multivitamin/mineral supplements intended for pregnant and lactating women in the U.S. The association created these guidelines due to recommendations from authoritative medical organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Endocrine Society and the American Thyroid Association.

“Scientific evidence shows that, similar to folic acid, adequate iodine is critical early in pregnancy when the fetal brain is growing rapidly,” said Duffy MacKay, ND, senior vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs, CRN. “Currently, many U.S. women of childbearing age get insufficient dietary iodine, putting their children at risk for decreased cognitive function. CRN’s guidelines call on manufacturers of multivitamin/mineral supplements for pregnant and lactating women in the U.S. to provide the scientifically-backed amount of iodine that this population needs.”

According to “Iodine Quantity in Multivitamin/Mineral Supplements for Pregnancy and Lactation,” CRN’s recommended guidelines, any safe and suitable iodine-containing dietary ingredients may be used as a source of iodine when used in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulations for dietary supplements.

“We commend the Council for Responsible Nutrition for stressing the importance of iodine for pregnant and lactating women in order to ensure normal brain development of the fetus and baby,” said Robert C. Smallridge, MD, president, American Thyroid Association.

For more information, visit www.crnusa.org.