Journal Articles
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915
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Item Supplement Use during Pregnancy in Aotearoa, New Zealand(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2023-03-06) Funnell C; Coad J; Brough L; Smith C; Mackay S; Jalili-Moghaddam S; Gibbs MIodine is an essential micronutrient required for thyroid function, and is essential during pregnancy for growth and development. Manatū Hauora (MoH) recommends an iodine supplement of 150 µg/day during pregnancy and breastfeeding. To reduce the risk of brain and spinal cord birth defects, the MoH also recommends a folic acid (FA) supplement of 800 µg/day preconception (four weeks) and during the first trimester of pregnancy. A self-administered Qualtrics XM survey was designed for pregnant women between 20–23 weeks of gestation and advertised on Facebook between March 2021–June 2021 throughout Aotearoa. The aim of the survey was to ascertain supplement usage during pregnancy, with a particular focus on iodine and FA. In total, one hundred and sixty pregnant women completed the online survey. A total of 50% were of New Zealand/European ethnicity, 11% were Māori, and 3.2% of a Pacific Island ethnicity. Furthermore, 43% were educated to university level, and 80% were in either voluntary and/or paid employment. In addition, 66% consumed iodine-only supplements (Neurotab; 150 µg/day), 44% consumed FA-only supplements (800 µg/day), and 34% consumed multiple-micronutrient (MN) supplements containing iodine and FA, predominately Elevit or Blackmore pregnancy supplements. Concerningly, 11% of participants took no supplements, and only 45% of the FA supplement users reported taking the FA prior to conception. Furthermore, 13% took both folic and an MN supplement, putting them at risk of an intake over the upper level of intake (1000 mg/day). Additionally, 18% of the participants consumed both an iodine-only and an MN supplement. Only 37% of those using an iodine supplement planned to stop taking it when breastfeeding ceased, suggesting that many were not aware of the recommendation for continuation of use. Despite the high educational status, many did not adhere to the supplement use recommendations. Public health strategies are required to ensure that women of childbearing age are aware of these recommendations for supplement use pre-, during, and post-pregnancy.Item Effect of Iodine Nutrition During Pregnancy and Lactation on Child Cognitive Outcomes: A Review(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2025-06-16) Ma ZF; Brough L; Marconi AMIodine deficiency remains one of the most serious global public health challenges, recognised as the leading cause of preventable brain damage worldwide. It is widely accepted as the primary aetiological factor underlying iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Inadequate maternal iodine intake reduces thyroxine synthesis, impairing foetal brain development and leading to long-term deficits in cognitive function across childhood and adulthood. However, emerging evidence also suggests that excessive iodine intake may disrupt thyroid function, particularly in individuals with underlying thyroid autoimmunity, potentially leading to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. In this state-of-the-art review, we examine the effects of iodine nutrition during pregnancy and lactation on child cognitive outcomes. We provide an overview of the recent global iodine status, critically appraise the current evidence linking both iodine deficiency and excess to neurodevelopmental outcomes, and offer expert interpretation of the key findings. We further highlight areas of uncertainty, introduce emerging evidence from contemporary studies, and propose directions for future research to inform and optimise public health policies and clinical practice. Our findings highlight a U-shaped association, whereby both insufficient and excessive iodine exposure during pregnancy and lactation may impair optimal brain development in the offspring.Item Do Micronutrient and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements Affect Human Maternal Immunity during Pregnancy? A Scoping Review(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2022-01-15) Rees G; Brough L; Orsatti GM; Lodge A; Walker S; Pérez-Cano FJMaternal dietary micronutrients and omega-3 fatty acids support development of the fetal and neonatal immune system. Whether supplementation is similarly beneficial for the mother during gestation has received limited attention. A scoping review of human trials was conducted looking for evidence of biochemical, genomic, and clinical effects of supplementation on the maternal immune system. The authors explored the literature on PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases from 2010 to the present day using PRISMA-ScR methodology. Full-length human trials in English were searched for using general terms and vitamin A, B12, C, D, and E; choline; iodine; iron; selenium; zinc; and docosahexaenoic/eicosapentaenoic acid. Of 1391 unique articles, 36 were eligible for inclusion. Diverse biochemical and epigenomic effects of supplementation were identified that may influence innate and adaptive immunity. Possible clinical benefits were encountered in malaria, HIV infections, anemia, Type 1 diabetes mellitus, and preventing preterm delivery. Only limited publications were identified that directly explored maternal immunity in pregnancy and the effects of micronutrients. None provided a holistic perspective. It is concluded that supplementation may influence biochemical aspects of the maternal immune response and some clinical outcomes, but the evidence from this review is not sufficient to justify changes to current guidelines.