CRN to industry: Prenatal multivitamins should include a daily serving of at least 150 mcg of iodine

WASHINGTON — Dietary supplement manufacturers should include a daily serving of at least 150 mcg of iodine in all multivitamin/mineral supplements intended for pregnant and lactating women in the United States, the Council for Responsible Nutrition advised in guidelines for industry released Tuesday. CRN developed these guidelines in response to recommendations from authoritative medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Endocrine Society, and the American Thyroid Association, that pregnant and lactating women receive a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement that contains 150 mcg of iodine.

 

“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, SVP 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 CRN’s guidelines, any safe and suitable iodine-containing dietary ingredient may be used as the source of iodine when used in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice regulations for dietary supplements, which will ensure that the product consistently meets label claims.

 

“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,” commented Robert Smallridge, president, American Thyroid Association.  “Our association strongly concurs that pregnant and lactating women should get 150 mcg of iodine daily from their multivitamin/mineral supplement.”  

 

CRN recommends that dietary supplement companies comply within 12 months.