High levels of iron
are linked with a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes (GDM), which
calls into question routine recommendations for iron supplements for pregnant
women, new research indicates.
Results from a study published
in Diabetologia on November 10 showed that women who were in the
top quartile for iron biomarkers in the second trimester of pregnancy had about
2.5 times the risk of developing GDM compared with those in the bottom
quartile.
The researcher thinks
that is more likely that iron supplements are a contributor to gestational
diabetes, rather than the cause of it, pregnant women should be screened for
iron levels and given supplements only if they are deficient.
Too much iron as well
as too little can cause harm, and pregnant women are often susceptible to low
iron levels and related adverse outcomes.
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