Categories
Change Password!
Reset Password!
Lower maternal iodine intake is linked to more postpartum depressive symptoms and anhedonia, but evidence remains insufficient to support iodine supplementation for preventing perinatal depression.
Pregnancy already places considerable demands on thyroid function—but could iodine nutrition also shape maternal mood? A novel scoping review suggests that the answer may be more nuanced than simply preventing iodine deficiency. Across available studies, lower maternal iodine intake is linked to more postpartum depressive symptoms and anhedonia (inability to experience joy or pleasure), even without overt thyroid dysfunction, while supplementation does not consistently improve mental health outcomes.
To map the evidence, the study authors searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for studies published from 2000 through 2025. The review included healthy pregnant or postpartum women whose studies reported:
Two authors independently screened the literature, extracted study data, and evaluated study quality using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Only 8 studies met the eligibility criteria. Four examined iodine status, while 4 assessed iodine supplementation. The most consistent signal emerged from studies examining iodine intake: lower maternal iodine intake was related to higher postpartum depressive symptoms and anhedonia.
Notably, this connection was noted even when overt thyroid dysfunction was absent, raising the possibility that iodine nutrition may have implications for maternal mood beyond its established role in thyroid hormone production. The evidence became less straightforward when the authors looked at intervention studies. Iodine was provided through iodized salt, iodine-containing supplements, or iodized oil in diverse populations. Although these strategies addressed inadequate iodine intake, their effects on maternal mood were inconsistent.
Some studies reported no meaningful impact on mental health, whereas others suggested that supplementation could be linked with increased emotional distress under specific conditions. This variability means that simply increasing iodine intake cannot currently be considered an established strategy for preventing perinatal depression.
To sum up, iodine is indispensable during pregnancy because it supports maternal and fetal thyroid function. However, the review points toward a more complex connection with maternal mental health. Both inadequate and excessive iodine intake may potentially impact maternal mood during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The focus, therefore, may need to shift from supplementation alone toward maintaining optimal iodine nutrition.
Nutrition Reviews
Iodine Nutrition as a Potential Determinant of Maternal Depression During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period: A Scoping Review
Pantea Nazeri et al.
Comments (0)