Pregnancy dietary iodine requirements

Although several sporadic reports on the developmental toxic effects of excess iodine have been found in the literature, systematic study is rare. Developmental toxic effects of excess iodine in animals were mainly indicated by embryo-lethal effects and skeletal variations. Embryo-lethal effects were reported in animals exposed to high doses of iodine, which reached 500-1000 times the required minimal dietary level. Skeletal variations were found in mice exposed to 10 times the adequate iodine intake. No apparent developmental toxic effects has been reported in humans exposed to excess iodine. However, excess iodine ingestion during pregnancy causes maternal thyroid dysfunction, which may result in an adverse pregnancy outcome. The potential developmental toxic effects of excess iodine in humans also need consideration. 

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