Abstract
A deficiency of iodine, an essential micronutrient, has adverse effects on growth and body development. Many studies indicate that iodine deficiency will greatly affect children's cognitive development and intelligence quotient. Therefore, it is critical to maintain an adequate iodine level during the early stage of life. Although the recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys demonstrated an adequate intake of iodine in the US population, a decline was revealed between the early 1970s and the early 1990s. This article reviews the role of iodine in cognitive development in children and discusses whether there is a need to provide iodine supplementation to this population in the future.