"If pregnant women lack of iodine, the baby is also less. The production of thyroid hormone to fall, so hypothyroidism occurs in the womb," said the doctor Specialist Internal Medicine Consultant Diabetes Endocrine and Metabolic Achmad Rudijanto in Building Ministry of Health, Jakarta, Tuesday (26/5 / 2015).
Thyroid hormone is required for the metabolism of the body. Thyroid hormone deficiency, causes a child's brain is not developed, so that the child will be mentally retarded. Children can experience stunted growth.
Rudi, who is also from Indonesia Society of Endocrinology (Perkeni) said, mental retardation in children can be prevented if detected since the newborn. To that end, important Congenital Hypothyroidism screening performed on newborns.
Rudi explained that according to the standards set by WHO, needs iodine per day for pregnant and lactating women is 200 micrograms. This amount is more than adults who are not pregnant, which is 150 micrograms per day.
Director of Child Health Ministry of Health Elizabeth Jane Soepardi said, need to socialize the importance of iodine intake for pregnant women.
"Actually, needs iodine baseball a lot, but it should be there. So, there must be movement of marine fish eat. If you eat salt, eat iodized," said Jane.
Source : dechacare