A recent study has proved that low iron intake increases the risk of autism in children by five-fold if the mother is 35 or older during pregnancy or she suffers from any metabolic disorders like diabetes, hypertension and obesity. The study indicates that mothers of autistic children are significantly less likely to take iron supplements (either before or during pregnancy) as compared to the mothers of normally developing children.
Rebecca J. Schmidt, an assistant professor from the MIND Institute at the University of California, Davis said, ‘The association between lower intake of iron by pregnant women and increased risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) was strongest during breastfeeding.’ The study was conducted between 2002 and 2009 in mother-child pairs, who were enrolled in the Northern California-based Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment (CHARGE).
The participants included mothers of children with autism and 346 mothers of children with typical development. The researchers examined maternal iron intake among the participants, including vitamins, other nutritional supplements and breakfast cereals during the three months prior to through the end of the women’s pregnancies and breastfeeding. The mothers’ daily iron intake was examined, including the frequency, dosages and the brands of supplements that they consumed.
‘Iron deficiency and its resultant anemia is the most common nutrient deficiency, especially during pregnancy, affecting 40 to 50 percent of women and their infants,’ Schmidt noted. Iron is crucial to early brain development, contributing to neurotransmitter production, myelination and immune function. All three of these pathways have been associated with autism. ’Take vitamins throughout pregnancy and take the recommended daily dosage. If there are side effects, talk to your doctor about how to address them,’ Schmidt concluded. The research was published online in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Top 6 reasons why your body needs iron
Although iron can be obtained from several dietary sources, almost 2.5–5 billion people suffer from iron deficiency, making it the most prevalent nutritional deficiency in the world. Iron is an essential mineral that is present in every cell of your body. Here are some important functions it carries out in the body.
1. Helps hemoglobin formation: Hemoglobin is a protein that is required to transport oxygen throughout the body. But without enough iron, the protein cannot be formed. One of the most important functions of iron is to hold the chains of hemoglobin protein together. About 65 to 75 per cent of the total amount of iron in blood is present is the form of hemoglobin.
3. Strengthens immune system: Your immune system relies on the stores of iron for optimal functioning as well as for preventing the growth of bacteria. Several proteins and immune cells control iron fluxes in the body such that bacteria are prevented from utilising it for their growth. Read about more 3 reasons your body needs iron
With inputs from IANS
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