PURPOSE Given the high consumption of seaweed soup by pregnant and lactating Korean women, concerns have been raised about excessive iodine intake. We evaluated the effects of maternal iodine intake on maternal thyroid function and birth outcomes. We also evaluated iodine intake via seaweed soup during late pregnancy and the early postpartum period.

METHODS A total of 349 pregnant women of the Ideal Breast Milk cohort were recruited in late pregnancy, of whom 302 revisited after delivery. Three-day dietary records were assessed at each visit. Blood was collected for thyroid function test. Obstetrical and birth outcomes were obtained.

RESULTS The median dietary iodine intake was 459 μg/day (interquartile range [IQR] 326.5-647.4 μg/day) during pregnancy. Dietary iodine intake by quartile was not significantly associated with maternal thyroid status, or obstetrical or neonatal outcomes. However, the dietary iodine intake in the early postpartum period was 1759 μg/day (IQR 1026.7-2491.1 μg/day) because of a marked increase in seaweed soup consumption. Of all women, 25.8% consumed seaweed soup more than once over the 3 days of dietary records when pregnant, but the figure rose to 93.4% postpartum. Of postpartum women who consumed seaweed soup daily, the median dietary iodine intakes were 1355, 2394, and 3063 μg/day (soup at one, two, and three-or-four meals).

CONCLUSIONS In these iodine-replete pregnant women, dietary iodine intake during pregnancy showed no effect on maternal thyroid function or birth outcomes. However, iodine intake in the early postpartum period was markedly increased by the frequency of seaweed soup consumption.