A new report illustrates some of the raw power behind the essential mineral iron: using supplements can lower a woman’s risk of becoming infertile. Published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, it was a small yet potent study.
It found that iron supplements could improve the rates of pregnancy, essentially making women fertile. On a related note, other studies on women with celiac disease (the dietary condition where one must avoid eating gluten) also provide proof that having proper levels of iron in the blood can promote fertility.
This new study was the first ever to investigate whether or not iron supplements could impact pregnancy in healthy women who had no prior history of infertility. A group of Harvard researchers looked at the diets of about 18,500 premenopausal women trying to get pregnant throughout the 1990s. They discovered that infertility related to ovulation happened in 438 women. Those who took iron supplements regularly were 40% less likely to suffer from this infertility issue.
Specifically, it was “nonheme” iron that caused this risk of infertility to fall. That would be the kind of iron found in vegetables, while “heme” iron is the type derived from meat and seafood. In any event, it was supplements that provided the boon in fertility. The researchers even concluded that “. . .women planning to become pregnant should consider using iron supplements because they may help them prevent iron deficiency and also improve fertility.”
About 80% of the world’s population doesn’t get enough iron each day. Pregnant women need three times what a man needs, because the growing fetus raises the overall need for iron. Others at risk of a deficiency include menstruating women (iron is lost in blood), vegetarians (because iron is not absorbed as well through vegetables), children and teenagers (they’re growing), and frequent blood donors (because iron is needed to rebuild blood). Some signs that you might be iron deficient include fatigue, weakness, feeling ‘not with it’ at work, fluctuating body temperature, getting sick more often, and an inflamed tongue.
Iron is crucial, as all red blood cells need it in order to deliver oxygen throughout your body. In your muscles, iron is responsible for storing oxygen for later use, whenever you use them. Your body needs the mineral to make new cells, amino acids, hormones, and neurotransmitters. Iron is a part of so many processes in your body that breezing over all of them here would be a huge disservice.
For women under the age of 50, the recommended intake is 18 mg. For men of the same age, it’s 8 mg. Pregnant women should get about 27 mg a day while vegetarians and vegans may need as much as 33 mg a day.
Next Post: Dangerous Trend: Seniors Misusing Prescription Drugs
Previous Post: Study Review Finds Risks in Newer Hemorrhoid Surgery
Tags: Diets, supplements
