Iodine in biology
The U.S. Food and Nutrition Board and Institute of Medicine recommended daily allowance of iodine ranges from 150 micrograms per day for adult humans to 290 micrograms per day for lactating mothers. However, the thyroid gland needs no more than 70 micrograms per day to synthesize the requisite daily amounts of T4 and T3. The higher recommended daily allowance levels of iodine seem necessary for optimal function of a number of other body systems, including lactating breasts, gastric mucosa, salivary glands, oral mucosa, arterial walls, thymus, epidermis, choroid plexus and cerebrospinal fluid, among others.
Creswell Eastman
His preferred method of delivery for pregnant and lactating women is via oral iodine supplements. In his day to day practice at the Sydney Thyroid Clinic he will give priority to pregnant women. Eastman's work in China indicates that adequate iodine intake has resulted in an overall increase in the national IQ. He is of the opinion that recent testing of children in Australia that showed a decline in results in Australian children may be caused by iodine deficiency. This was a problem that he previously flagged in 2007: "If we don't address this in Australia then we are likely to see a lot of children born in coming years that have lower IQs, have problems with hearing, have great learning difficulties and they are less likely to fulfill their genetic potential."Eastman is married to Annette, whom he met while a medical student, and has four children Katherine (Kate), born 1966; Damien, born 1968; Phillipa, born 1970 and Nicholas, born 1974.