Most, 84 per cent were unaware that iodine from diet is important for the healthy development of the unborn baby, and only 11 per cent had heard about iodine from a healthcare professional. "Iodine is crucial during pregnancy and the first months of life, to ensure adequate brain development, but achieving over 200 micrograms a day of iodine through diet requires regular consumption of iodine-rich foods such as milk and sea fish," Combet said.
There is a need to work towards a solution, she said. "The most important issue to come from this study, however, was the lack of awareness of the important role iodine plays in foetal development and how to consume adequate levels of this essential mineral. This is something that needs to be addressed," Combet said.