Iodine

In a 3-year follow-up of 122 children, maternal iodine supplementation during lactation (150 or 300 mcg/day) did not significantly improve neurodevelopment versus placebo.

A meta-analysis of pregnancy iodine trials found supplementation improved maternal iodine status, with mixed effects on infant growth and neurodevelopment outcomes.

In 106 mother-infant dyads, maternal iodine supplementation during lactation (225 mcg/day for 26 weeks) was evaluated for effects on infant visual processing and thyroid function.

A review of iodine supplementation across preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum (2,700+ participants in included studies) summarized benefits for maternal and infant thyroid status.

In 159 mildly iodine-deficient pregnant women, 200 mcg/day iodine until delivery did not significantly improve child IQ at ages 5–6 versus placebo.

A meta-analysis found iodine supplementation in mild-to-moderate deficiency improved maternal and newborn thyroid function, with variable effects on growth and cognition.

A review discussed benefits, pitfalls, and public-health considerations of iodine fortification and supplementation in the 21st century.

A review notes iodine deficiency is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation and goiter, with pregnancy as a critical window; Japanese high iodine intake shows no increased autoimmune thyroid disease at intakes far above U.S. norms.

A meta-analysis of 12,291 children across Chinese studies found that iodine deficiency was associated with lower intelligence scores, with the largest gaps between severely deficient and iodine-sufficient areas.

A Cochrane systematic review of iodised salt programs in populations with about 20,000 participants concluded that iodised salt effectively prevents iodine deficiency disorders compared with unsupplemented diets.

A review of human iodine kinetics found that 100 mg potassium iodide taken just before radioactive iodine exposure blocks at least 95% of thyroid dose in adults with normal thyroid function.

In 56 adults with adenoviral conjunctivitis, a single in-office 5% povidone-iodine application was evaluated for safety and efficacy versus artificial tears.

In 50 adults with acute adenoviral conjunctivitis over 5 days, povidone-iodine 0.6%/dexamethasone 0.1% eye drops improved symptoms versus vehicle.

A meta-analysis found ocular prophylactic agents, including povidone-iodine, effective for preventing gonococcal and chlamydial ophthalmia neonatorum in newborns.

In 13 diabetic patients with deep foot ulcers over 12 weeks, cadexomer iodine ointment improved healing and was cost-effective versus standard treatment.

A network meta-analysis (7,097 cesarean deliveries) ranked 1% povidone-iodine vaginal preparation most effective for preventing post-cesarean endometritis.

A Cochrane meta-analysis (3,403 women) found vaginal antiseptic preparation before cesarean section reduced postoperative infectious complications versus no preparation.

A Cochrane review (1,198 women) found pre-cesarean vaginal cleansing with antiseptic solution, including povidone-iodine, reduced postoperative endometritis versus control.

In 111 euthyroid women with cyclic mastalgia over 6 months, iodine supplementation (1.5 mg/day) reduced breast pain scores versus placebo.

In 1,365 women with fibrocystic breast disease followed up to 5 years, molecular iodine (0.08 mg/kg) reduced breast pain and nodularity versus control.

A systematic review through November 2008 found inconsistent evidence on whether povidone-iodine rinsing as an adjunct to scaling and root planing adds meaningful benefit for chronic periodontitis.

In 40 head-and-neck radiochemotherapy patients, prophylactic povidone-iodine oral rinses did not clearly reduce oral mucositis severity compared with standard care in this prospective randomized trial.

In 40 cancer patients on antineoplastic radiochemotherapy, adding 4 daily povidone-iodine rinses to standard mucositis prophylaxis did not significantly reduce mucositis versus sterile water rinses.

In euthyroid volunteers, supplemental iodine at 250 to 1,500 mcg/day for 14 days produced only small changes in T4, T3, and TSH, much less than pharmacologic iodine doses.

A meta-analysis of trials in mildly to moderately iodine-deficient pregnant women found insufficient consistent evidence that iodine supplementation clearly improves maternal thyroid function or child neurodevelopment.