Iodine deficiency linked to literacy problems in childhood
THURSDAY, MAY 02, 2013 10:19 AM

The intellectual abilities of individuals who receive an insufficient amount of iodine in their diet could be at risk, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. New research from the Menzies Research Institute at the University of Tasmania in Australia reveals how much people's iodine exposure can affect their long-term cognitive development while they are still in the womb.

This research, which is set to appear in The Endocrine Society's "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism," shows how children's exposure to iodine while they are in the womb can influence their literacy scores at age 9. Based on the standardized test scores of 228 kids, those who received an insufficient amount of this element ended up scoring lower on literacy assessments - especially in the area of spelling.

While study participants received iodine supplementation during childhood, the results reveal that the damage done in the womb was irreversible.

"Fortunately, iodine deficiency during pregnancy and the resulting neurological impact is preventable," said Kristen L. Hynes, the study's lead author. "Pregnant women should follow public health guidelines and take daily dietary supplements containing iodine."

Based on this research, if children consistently receive low literacy scores at school, their parents may want to have them take an IQ test for kids to see if there is a larger problem they need to know about.