Iron and other nutrients during pregnancy.
GDM or gestational diabetes mellitus, was seen at higher levels in pregnant women with high iron levels. Also, pregnant women diagnosed with GDM had 16% higher levels of hepcdin than those who were not.
While iron supplementation is often recommended during pregnancy to avoid iron deficiency, there are significant concerns with high iron stores and disturbances in glucose metabolism. It is also possible that it can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in non-pregnant individuals.
The researchers measured iron biomarker relationships with GDM risk such as ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor and plasma C-reactive protein levels throughout the pregnancy. Oral glucose tolerance tests were used to identify GDM in the participants.
They found that during the first iron level measurement during weeks 10-14 of gestation, ferritin levels in women who were to develop GDM were approximately 21% higher compared with women who did not develop GDM as were the hepcidin levels.Iron is an essential nutrient, however; due to its strong pro-oxidant properties, free iron can lead to increased oxidative stress and cellular damage.
During pregnancy it is important to maintain healthy levels of other nutrients as well , such as vitamin B and/or iodine.
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