Dr Sarah Bath

Dr Sarah Bath is a Lecturer in Public Health Nutrition at the University of Surrey. She is a registered dietitian with the Health and Care Professions Council. She worked as a clinical dietitian in the NHS for 18 months. 


Dr Bath has been researching iodine in the UK since 2006. She completed her PhD on “iodine status of UK pregnant women and its implications”. She held an MRC Population Health Scientist Fellowship (2013-2016) to investigate “Iodine status in pregnancy and child neurodevelopment: the influence of genetic variation, selenium status and thyroid function on the relationship”.


Her research focuses on iodine status in the UK, the dietary predictors of iodine status, and the implications of iodine deficiency on the developing brain.


Since joining the Department of Nutritional Sciences as a lecturer (in 2016) she has continued research her research on iodine and collaborates with other academics in the UK and across Europe.


Dr Bath is the Programme Director for the MSc in Nutritional Medicine. She teaches on undergraduate programmes (across all levels) and on a number of modules for both of the nutrition MSc courses. She teaches iodine, public health nutrition, statistics, critical appraisal and research methods.



What is iodine and why do mothers-to-be need it?


In this BBC News video clip Dr Bath explains why the nutrient iodine is important during pregnancy and how dairy products and fish can aid its intake.


  • Publications

    Iodine/thyroid journal publications


    1. Levie D, Korevaar TIM, Bath SC, Dalmau-Bueno A, Murcia M, Espada M, Dineva M, Ibarluzea JM, Sunyer J, Tiemeier H, Rebagliato M, Rayman MP, Peeters RP, Guxens M (2018) Maternal thyroid function in early pregnancy, child IQ, and autistic traits: a meta-analysis of individual-participant data from three population-based birth cohorts.Clin. Endocrinol. Metab (E-pub 10 May 2018 doi: 10.1210/jc.2018-00224)
    2. Torlinska B, Bath SC, Janjua A, Boelaert K, Chan SY (2018) Iodine status during pregnancy in a region of mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency is not associated with adverse obstetric outcomes; results from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) Nutrients Mar 1; 10(3) E291. doi: 10.3390/nu10030291.
    3. Velasco I, Bath SC, Rayman MP, Peña-Rosas JP (2018) Iodine as Essential Nutrient during the First 1000 Days of Life. Nutrients Mar 1; 10(3) E290. doi: 10.3390/nu10030290.
    4. O’Kane SM, Pourshahidi LM, Mulhern M. Strain SJJ, Mackle EM, Koca D, Schomburg L, Hill S, O’Reilly J, Kmiotek D, Deitrich C, Bath SC & Yeates AJ. (2018) Cow Milk Consumption Increases Iodine Status in Women of Childbearing Age in a Randomized Controlled Trial. J Nutr; E-pub 12 March 2018; doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxx043.
    5. Bath SC (2017) Iodine supplementation in pregnant women from mildly deficient regions. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol E-pub 10 October 2017 doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(17)30331-5
    6. Bath SC Hill S, Goenaga Infante H, Elghul S, Nezianya CJ & Rayman MP. (2017) Iodine concentration of milk-alternative drinks available in the UK in comparison to cows’ milk. Br J Nutr E-pub 26 Sept 2017 doi:10.1017/S0007114517002136
    7. Bath SC & Rayman MP (2017) Has the UK really become iodine sufficient? Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(17)30133-X
    8. Bath SC (2016) The challenges of harmonising the iodine supply across Europe. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol; dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(16)30329-1
    9. Bath SC, Pop VJ, Furmidge-Owen VL, Broeren MA, Rayman MP (2016) Thyroglobulin as a functional biomarker of iodine status in a cohort study of UK pregnant women. Thyroid
    10. Bath SC, and Rayman MP Trace element concentration in organic and conventional milk: what are the nutritional implications of the recently reported differences? Br J Nutr.
    11. Bath SC, Combet E, Scully P et al (2015) A multi-centre pilot study of iodine status in UK schoolchildren aged 8-10 years. Eur J Nutr
    12. Bath SC, Furmidge-Owen VL, Redman CW et al. (2015) Gestational changes in iodine status in a cohort study of pregnant women from the United Kingdom: season as an effect modifier. Am J Clin Nutr.
    13. Bath SC and Rayman MP (2015) A review of the iodine status of UK pregnant women and its implications for the offspring. Environ Geochem Health E-pub 7 Feb; doi 10.1007/s10653-015-9682-3
    14. Mao J, Pop VJM, Bath SC, Vader HL, Redman CWG, Rayman (2014) MP Effect of low-dose selenium on thyroid autoimmunity and thyroid function in UK pregnant women with mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency Eur J Nutr doi:10.1007/s00394-014-0822-9
    15. Bath SC, Sleeth ML, Mckenna M, Walter A, Taylor A, Rayman MP (2014) Iodine intake and status of UK women of childbearing age recruited at the University of Surrey in the winter. Br J Nutr E-pub 2 Oct 2014
    16. Bath SC, Wright J, Taylor A, Walter A, Rayman MP (2014) Iodine deficiency in pregnant women living in the South East of the UK – a study investigating the influence of diet and nutritional supplements on iodine status Br J Nutr; 111: 1622-1631
    17. Bath SC, Button S, Rayman MP (2014). Iodised salt availability in the UK – is it likely to influence population iodine intake? Public Health Nutr; 17: 450-454.
    18. Bath SC, Steer C, Golding J, Emmett P, Rayman MP. Effect of inadequate iodine status in UK pregnant women on cognitive outcomes in their children: results from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Lancet; 382: 331-37
    19. Bath SC, Rayman MP (2013) Facts Behind the Headlines: Is iodine deficiency during pregnancy a public health concern in the UK? Nutr Bull; 38: 400-404
    20. Bath SC (2013) Comment: Direct or indirect iodine supplementation of infants? Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol; 2: 184-185
    21. Bath SC, Jolly KB, Rayman MP (2013) Iodine supplements during and after pregnancy. JAMA 309, 1345
    22. Bath SC, Button S, Rayman MP (2012) Iodine concentration of organic and conventional milk: implications for iodine intake Br J Nutr, 107 935-940.
    23. Bath SC, Rayman MP. (2012) Iodine deficiency in the UK – an overlooked cause of neurodevelopment delay? Proc Nut Soc, 72: 226-35
    24. Bath SC, Rayman MP (2012) Antenatal thyroid screening and childhood cognitive function. N Engl J Med; 366: 1640-1641; author reply 1641
    25. Bath SC, Rayman MP (2011) Iodine deficiency in UK schoolgirls Lancet 378 1623

     


    Dietetic articles


    1. Bath SC (2015) The need for iodine in pregnancy – a focus on the UK situation. Complete Nutrition; 7:13-16
    2. Bath SC & Rayman MP (2014) Iodine deficiency in the UK; dietetic perspectives. NHD (Network Health Dietitians) magazine; 94: 39-42.
    3. Bath SC (2014) Dietetic implications of iodine deficiency in the UK. Dietetics Today (monthly publication of the British Dietetic Association); 41 (9): 39-40.

Dr Sarah Bath

PhD, BSc, Registered Dietitian (with HCPC), FHEA

Main Interests

Senior Lecturer in Public Health Nutrition at University of Surrey


Specialises in Iodine; Early life nutrition; Dietary assessment; Micronutrients; Dietetics