In 2009, over 16% of public school-aged boys are on a mood-altering drug. ADHD is being diagnosed at epidemic proportions. Young girls (as well as boys) are being treated with antidepressant drugs at record numbers. As Ricky asked Lucy we should all be asking, “Wha’ happened?”
A new letter to the Editor in the journal Thyroid (Vol. 19, N9, 2009, published ahead of print 8.13.09) reported that from 2001-2006, 80% of pregnant women and 80% of women of child-bearing age were not supplementing with iodine. During that same period, the authors reported that over 85% of lactating women were not taking a supplement containing iodine.
I have lectured about the problem with prenatal vitamins for years. Most prenatal vitamins do not contain iodine and the ones that do contain iodine do not contain enough. This is truly a public health disaster.
What happens when the pregnant mother is iodine deficient? Her baby has a significantly greater chance of developing mental retardation, thyroid problems, and behavioral problems such as ADHD.
In my book, Iodine Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It I describe the infant’s need for iodine. However, it is not only the young that need iodine. It is all of us.
Iodine deficiency is the number one nutritional deficiency affecting Americans. My research has shown over 96% of the nearly 5,000 patients I have tested deficient (and most severely deficient) in iodine. This should be a public health crisis. Forget about the health care bill, correct this problem and we will save untold amounts of money!
What can you do? Have your iodine levels checked and work with a health care practitioner knowledgeable about iodine. Generally, most people need milligram amounts of iodine to achieve whole body iodine sufficiency. In today’s toxic world, our iodine requirements are much higher than our predecessors. More information about iodine can be found in my books.
I’m wondering how much iodine need for a pregant woman. Is it okay to take 3mg of iodine every day for the pregant woman? or, is it okay to take 12.5mg? Now I am pregnant but I have auto immune disease such as Atopy. I hope to cure my disease with iodine. I would like to read your book about iodine but I live in South Korea 🙁
Thank you for the information about iodine:)
Cyrstal,
I cannot give medical advice. However, I can tell you that the average Japanese ingests about 15mg/day of iodine. I have most of my pregnant women taking iodine.
DrB
Carol,
Yes, iodine can help ADHD kids. Several studies have pointed out that mothers with low iodine have children who are more prone to developing ADHD. My experience has shown that iodine (as part of a comprehensive plan)is an effective treatment for ADHD.
I’m wondering if iodine supplementation would help the kids with the ADHD. If it’s in your book, I ordered it but it hasn’t come yet…