Four out of five pregnant women in Ireland are iron deficient – here’s why it’s worrying

According to a new study me and my colleagues carried out. What was particularly surprising was that the women were in good health.

Working with the University of Minnesota and the Masonic Developing Brain Institute, we analyzed data from 641 participants from the Republic of Ireland. They were all pregnant with their first child. We took blood samples at weeks 15, 20 and 33 to check iron levels.

Our study, one of the largest of its kind in the world, shows how common iron deficiency is even in prosperous countries like Ireland. Indeed, women in this study had higher rates of iron deficiency than women in some low-income countries where access to good health care and nutritious food is more constrained.

In the early months of pregnancy, 20% of women were iron deficient at week 15, but none were anemic. However, by the third trimester, more than 80% of women were iron deficient. This suggests that although many women may start pregnancy with normal levels of iron, they are not getting enough iron to meet their body’s increasing needs as the pregnancy progresses.

One of the most surprising aspects of this study is that approximately 75% of women took iron supplements that met the European recommended daily iron intake of 15–17 mg. Although this supplement had a protective effect for some women, iron deficiency was still extremely common in the third trimester.

Why iron is so significant

Pregnant women require ten times more iron during pregnancy to meet your own needs and those of your growing baby. Both mother and baby exploit it to distribute oxygen throughout the body, which is necessary for the proper functioning of all cells and organs.

Low iron levels are associated with greater risk of harm to mother and baby.

Iron deficiency may have long-term consequences on child’s brain developmentleading to weaker cognitionbehavioral problems and poorer motor skills. My previous research showed that iron deficiency in early life is associated with behavioral problems at the age of five.

Our research suggests that women should be routinely tested for iron deficiency in early pregnancy. Currently, screening for the early stages of iron deficiency is not the norm in Ireland, or in many of them other countrieswhich means many women don’t realize they have low iron levels until overdue in pregnancy – or don’t realize it at all.

Screening in early pregnancy can assist identify those most at risk of deficiency, enabling them to get assist before it becomes a problem.

In addition to screening tests, there is a need for this educate women on the importance of iron during pregnancy. Women are encouraged to focus on a diet rich in ironincluding red meat, green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts and dried fruits. While iron from animal foods is absorbs more easilyIron-rich foods, both animal and plant, are significant.

Routine screening and better education about the importance of iron during pregnancy are crucial to benefit families and avoid unnecessary risks.