Iodine Supplements ?? In response to a question concerning iodine tablets. Iodine is concentrated in human milk to an incredible degree( M:P ratio > 1 to 26). It is definitely contraindicated in pregnant women, breastfeeding moms and in all neonates. As the levels tend to rise in the infant, excessive iodine will shut down the infant thyroid gland, produce skin eruptions, CNS depression, fever, vasculitis, glomerulonephritis, and a parkinsonian syndrome. The human fetal thyroid begins to concentrate iodine in the 12-14 th week of gestation, and provides enough iodine for months of life post-partum. In the USA, our salt is iodized with enough potassium iodide to prevent goiter. No additional iodine of any source should ever be used in pregnant women, or breastfeeding moms...this includes the expectorant(cough syrup) iodinated glycerol, the old formulation commonly used as an expectorant(SSKI), or iodine tablets. Nature is much better at controlling our essential elements than we are, lets not play around with potentially dangerous supplements. *********************************** T.W. Hale, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Pediatrics Texas Tech University School of Medicine ***********************************