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21/06/2013

Women Who Take Iron 'Have Bigger Babies'

Expectant mothers who take a daily iron supplement give birth to bigger and healthier babies, according to a report in the Daily Mail.

Researchers in Britain and the US found that pregnant women taking iron during pregnancy is associated with a significant increase in birth weight, thus reducing the risk of a low birth weight.

The effects were seen for iron doses up to 66mg per day, and the World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommends a 60mg dose per day for mothers-to-be.

Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anaemia during pregnancy, but while studies suggest there is a link between prenatal anaemia and the risk of premature birth, evidence on other birth outcomes is not consistent.

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For the study, researchers looked at the results of more than 90 studies of prenatal iron use and prenatal anaemia, involving almost two million women. They found that iron use increased a mother's average haemoglobin levels and significantly reduced the risk of anaemia.

While there was no reduction in risk of premature birth as a result of iron use, but further analysis revealed there was a significantly higher risk of low birth weight and premature birth with anaemia in the first or second trimester of pregnancy.

They also discovered that for every 10mg increase in iron dose per day, the risk of maternal anaemia fell by 12%, while birth weight increased by 15g, and the risk of low birth weight fell by 3%.

The researchers said: "Our findings suggest that use of iron in women during pregnancy may be used as a preventive strategy to improve maternal haematological status and birth weight."

They also said future studies should explore "feasible strategies of iron delivery", as well as "evaluation of the effectiveness of other strategies, such as fortification and dietary diversification".

(JP/MH)

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"Expectant mothers who take a daily iron supplement give birth to bigger and healthier babies, according to a report in the Daily Mail."