Prematurity and iodine deficiency:
Premature babies which are not breast fed may be at high risk of iodine deficiency. A study of the iodine content of mothers’ breast milk and 159 different formula brands found mothers’ milk to have an average of more than 10 micrograms per deciliter of iodine than most formulas. Premature babies (born to mothers pregnant for 27-30 weeks) were found to consume an average 3.1 micrograms per day of iodine at 5 days of age and 29.8 micrograms by 2 months of age. Iodine content in formulas from several different countries was found to be below the recommended daily amount for babies. Authors conclude that formula fed premature babies are at high risk of iodine deficiency. (18)