Iron Deficiency during early Pregnancy could harm brain

Iron Deficiency during early Pregnancy could harm brain - Recipe Healthy

According to a study published in the Scientific Joumal PLoS One by the University of Rochester Medical Center it was revealed that deficiency of iron in mother during early pregnancy could impact on the brain development of the child. Sometime mild or moderate iron deficiency gets unnoticed, hence this study was undertaken to monitor a pregnant woman’s iron status beyond anemia.
It has been seen that deficiency of iron is estimated 35 percent to 58 percent of all healthy women. One in five women who is in childbearing age has iron-deficient anemia, a sort of more serious condition. It has already been established that iron-deficient babies often develop more slowly and has brain abnormalities like slow language learning and other behavioral problems. According to Margrot Mayer Proschel, Ph.D the lead researcher our preliminary data suggested that cells which are involved in building the embryonic brain during first trimester were most sensitive to low iron levels. During the study it was revealed that the critical period starts in the weeks prior to conception and extends through the first trimester till the onset of the second trimester. Iron deficiency which starts in the third trimester did not seem to harm the developing brain.

This study suggests that prenatal care usually involves relying on multivitamins that contain iron which is usually prescribed after pregnancy is confirmed or at the first prenatal visit. The study laid emphasis on to begin routine monitoring to detect iron deficiency earlier. During the course of the study it was also suggested to involve ABR testing on human infants.