May 3rd, 2011
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Author: A new study led by UW-Madison researchers has found the first evidence that the babies of obese mothers are more likely to suffer from iron deficiencies.
The research team presented their findings this weekend at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies in Denver.
These iron deficiencies, a kind of anemia, were more common among babies born to obese mothers in the study of 281 births.
The study says obese adults often suffer from their own iron deficiencies because intestinal inflammation can hinder the metal’s absorption into the bloodstream. The same hindrance could be limiting the flow of iron into the mother’s womb and the placenta supplying the fetus with nutrients.
Iron is necessary for early brain development, and the fetus draws more and more as the pregnancy advances. In late pregnancy, according to the study, the need quadruples. It’s in this period that the anemia develops, the researchers estimate.
Obese women are also more likely to give birth to larger babies with higher iron needs, they add, another factor contributing to the onset of anemia.
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