The numbers have just fallen. According to a recent study carried out by the Center Hospitalier Universitaire de Bruxelles (in Belgium), more than a third of pregnant women lack iron.
However, this trace element is essential for the proper development of the baby’s brain, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy … In addition, in September 2014, an American study had shown that the risk of autism in children was multiplied by 5 when the mother had lacked iron during her pregnancy. A subject that must therefore be taken seriously!
The research was carried out on a representative sample of 1900 women, Europeans and pregnant. The age of the volunteers and their body mass index (BMI) were also taken into account. Results ? 35% of the participants presented iron deficiency more or less severe. And among them, 20% also suffered from hypothyroidism.
Turkey, sardines, tofu …
Indeed, iron is involved in the proper functioning of the thyroid gland : when it is lacking, the production of triiodothyronine and thyroxine (two hormones often abbreviated T3 and T4) decreases. This condition usually results in severe fatigue, hypothermia, slow heart rate (bradycardia) and / or weight gain.
In pregnant women, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) is around 30 mg of iron per day. To refuel, do not hesitate to adapt your diet: feast on turkey, sardines, tofu, lentils, spinach, white beans …
On the other hand, offal and seafood are strongly discouraged. Warning: conversely, an excess of iron can also harm the health of pregnant women – according to some specialists, there is a risk of cardiovascular disorders.
This work was published in the European Journal of Endocrinology.
To read: How to fill up with iron?
