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Thursday, 27 October 2005 11:50 | BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk
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An Australian study has found that women who take iron supplements during pregnancy could be putting their unborn child at risk of developing behavioural problems.
Iron supplements are commonly used by pregnant women because carrying a baby can cause the body’s natural iron levels to fall. However, a study of more than 400 women by the University of Adelaide found a “statistically significant difference” in the number of children born with problems.
The researchers were attempting to confirm whether iron supplements prevented anaemia, which they did, They also looked into whether children born to women who used iron supplements had a higher IQ, as previous studies have suggested.
At the start of the study, the 430 participants all had normal iron levels. Half of the women then took 20mg daily supplements throughout their pregnancy.
When tested at four years of age, the children whose mothers had taken the supplements had no IQ advantage over the others.
However, the team found a significant difference in problems such as hyperactivity and social interaction when the mothers completed questionnaires about their children’s behaviour.
Maria Makrides, who led the research, said it wasn’t clear what role the iron played in affecting this outcome and added that the number of children with problems was small.
"We don't want to over-interpret our finding but, on the other hand, we don't want to sweep it under the carpet," said Dr Makrides.
It is thought that too much iron can overload the liver and make it difficult for oxygen to pass through the placenta, affecting neuronal functioning.
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