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Improved Iodine Status In Breastfeeding Women Following Mandatory Fortification, Samantha Axford, Karen Charlton, Heather Yeatman, Gary Ma

Karen E. Charlton

Mandatory iodine fortification of salt used in the bread-making process was introduced in Australia in October 2009 at levels to meet the iodine needs of the general Australian population. An iodine supplement of 150 μg each day is recommended to meet the additional needs of pregnancy and lactation.1,2 As the iodine status of pregnant women in Australia has been found to be inadequate,3–5 it can be anticipated that many women commence lactation in an iodine-depleted state. Thus, it is important to determine the iodine status of breastfeeding mothers.