Taking iron during pregnancy produces 'bigger and healthier babies' according to research
Pregnant women who take a daily iron supplement give birth to bigger and healthier babies, according to a new study.
The Daily Mail has reported that researchers in Britain and America have discovered that taking iron during pregnancy linked to a significant increase in birth weight. The effects were seen for iron doses up to 66mg per day.
It’s important to note that The World Health Organisation currently recommends a dose of 60mg per day for pregnant women. Also, iron deficiency is the most widespread nutritional deficiency in the world.
Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anaemia during pregnancy affecting as many as 32 million pregnant women around the world.
Researchers in Britain and the U.S. analysed the results of more than 90 studies of prenatal iron use and prenatal anaemia, involving nearly two million women.
They found that iron use increased a mother's average haemoglobin levels and significantly reduced the risk of anaemia but there was no reduction in risk of premature birth as a result of iron use.
It has been reported that 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.’
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