• K Mahomed and A M Gülmezoglu.
• Ipswich Hospital, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, 4305. kassam_mahomed@health.qld.gov.au
• Cochrane Db Syst Rev. 2007 Jul 18; 2006 (3): CD000135CD000135.

BackgroundIodine deficiency is the leading preventable cause of intellectual impairment in the world. Although iodine supplementation is generally considered to be safe, there is a possibility of high doses of iodine suppressing maternal thyroid function.ObjectivesThe objective of this review was to assess the effects of iodine supplementation before or during pregnancy in areas of iodine deficiency.Search StrategyWe searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register.Selection CriteriaAll acceptably controlled trials of maternal iodine supplementation during pregnancy with clinical outcomes.Data Collection And AnalysisEligibility and trial quality were assessed by two reviewers.Main ResultsThree trials involving 1551 women were included. In two trials, iodine supplementation was associated with a statistically significant reduction in deaths during infancy and early childhood (relative risk 0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.56 to 0.90). Iodine supplementation was associated with decreased prevalence of endemic cretinism at the age of four years (relative risk 0.27, 95% confidence interval 0.12 to 0.60) and better psychomotor development scores between four to 25 months of age.Authors' ConclusionsIodine supplementation in a population with high levels of endemic cretinism results in an important reduction in the incidence of the condition with no apparent adverse effects.

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