Iodine intake in pregnancy

Iodine is an essential micronutrient required for thyroid hormone biosynthesis. The recommended daily adult intake is 150 μg, increasing to 220–300 μg for pregnant and lactating women. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) is an accurate indicator of iodine intake because more than 90% is excreted over a 24-hour period. The World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund, and the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders established that for a given population, the appropriate UIC in clinically healthy pregnant women should be 150–249 μg/L [1,2].