News
Dieters may have an increased risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies
6 August 2010
Popular weight loss diets may be accompanied by inadequate vitamin and mineral intake, suggests a new US study.
16 July 2013
According to a new review daily supplementation with iron during pregnancy reduces the risk of maternal anemia and low birth weight babies.
The meta-analysis included 92 randomized controlled trials and cohort studies, which investigated a potential dose-response relationship between iron intake, maternal anemia and low birth weight babies in almost two million people (1). The analysis showed that prenatal iron use was significantly associated with an increase in birth weight and reduction in risk of low birth weight. A dose-response relation was shown for higher iron dose as well as increasing mean hemoglobin concentration in the prenatal period and increasing birth weight. In addition, significant reductions in maternal anemia, iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia with increa-sing iron intakes were observed: for every 10 mg increase in the daily iron dosage – up to 66 mg – the risk of maternal anemia was 12% lower, birth weight increased by 15 grams and risk of low birth weight de-creased by 3%. No reduction in risk of preterm birth as a result of iron use was shown.
The researchers concluded that use of iron by women during pregnancy may be applied as a preventive strategy to improve maternal hematological status and birth weight. Iron deficiency is the most widespread nutritional deficiency in the world, and is the most common cause of anemia during pregnancy. Future re-search should explore feasible strategies of iron delivery as well as evaluation of the effectiveness of other strategies, such as fortification and dietary diversification, the scientists suggested.
6 August 2010
Popular weight loss diets may be accompanied by inadequate vitamin and mineral intake, suggests a new US study.
7 August 2012
A new US study suggests that the combination of being obese and having insufficient blood vitamin D concentrations may put people at an even greater risk of insulin resistance – a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes – than either factor alone.
20 November 2017
This month’s Expert Opinion is shared by Dr. Gregory Ward, MBBS, FRCOG who shines a light on women’s health during the peri-menopause and menopause and the impact of nutrition during this life’s stage.