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Four in five pregnant women in Ireland are iron deficient by third trimester, new study finds

The findings raise concerns as the people studied were “a low-risk and generally healthy cohort”.

FOUR OUT OF five pregnant women in Ireland are iron deficient by their third trimester, according to a study published today by University College Cork.

Iron deficiency during pregnancy is linked to increased risks of complications for both the mother and the child, including neurodevelopmental challenges for the baby.  

According to the researchers who contributed to the study, the findings raise concerns as the people studied were “a low-risk and generally healthy cohort”.   

The authors did reference that taking supplments is helpful, noting that “iron-containing supplements (mainly multivitamins) taken pre/early pregnancy were associated with a reduced risk of iron deficiency throughout pregnancy, including the third trimester.” 

This study was carried out by researchers at the Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health and the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences in UCC in collaboration with the University of Minnesota and the Masonic Institute of the Developing Brain. 

Led by UCC’s Dr Elaine McCarthy, the study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 

The study analysed data collected from 641 women in Ireland who were carrying their first baby and had a successful delivery.  

Blood samples were taken from the women throughout pregnancy, at 15, 20 and 33 weeks to determine their levels of iron. 

The researchers found that in Cork, iron deficiency was “very common during pregnancy, despite the mothers being generally healthy.” 

But despite these high rates of iron deficiency, none of the study participants were anaemic in the first trimester. 

Lead researcher, Dr Elaine McCarthy of UCC said that iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency in the world, “but it has often been thought of as mainly a problem in low-resource settings (places with little or inadequate healthcare services)”.

“Our research clearly illustrates that iron deficiency is extremely common amongst pregnant women, even in a generally healthy population, such as this cohort in Ireland.”  

Dr McCarthy emphasised the need for a shift in healthcare practices because routine screening for iron deficiency during pregnancy is not common practice. 

“Our findings highlight the importance of screening to identify the women at the greatest risk of iron deficiency early in their pregnancy,” she said. 

“In addition to this, we need to support and educate pregnant women around the importance of iron in their diets.”

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    Mute did you every wonder
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    Jul 30th 2024, 6:12 AM

    Delighted for her. Talking about close, but she got it. Congratulations to her.

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    Mute aidan kearney
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    Jul 30th 2024, 7:41 AM

    Very well written report. A superb race, the beaming smile and tears in her interview on TV summed up her dedication, sacrifice, and commitment to her sport. Just magic.

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    Mute Ciaran O Donoghue
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    Jul 30th 2024, 7:53 AM

    @aidan kearney: Apart from the numbers. And confusing a hundredth and a thousandth.

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    Mute Jason McDowell
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    Jul 30th 2024, 7:21 AM

    Her reaction was as if she won gold ..what a brilliant performance and what an ambassador not just for Irish sport but for Olympic sport.
    She’s put Grange Co. Sligo on world sporting headlines and the name Mona McSharry is a legend

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    Mute honey badger
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    Jul 30th 2024, 7:12 AM

    Her interview after getting her medal is one for the ages. Look it up if you missed it.

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    Mute Shane Egan
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    Jul 30th 2024, 7:47 AM

    Excellent article

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    Mute Regular John
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    Jul 30th 2024, 7:40 AM

    Not usually a fan of swimming, hadn’t heard of her before yesterday but still delighted for her. Well done girl, fantastic performance.

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    Mute Garreth Byrne
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    Jul 30th 2024, 8:25 AM

    Wow! Grange in Co. Sligo is now an Olympic medal village.

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    Mute offside again
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    Jul 30th 2024, 5:37 AM

    Must be no more than a fingertip of a distance !

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    Mute Wood Jackson
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    Jul 30th 2024, 8:33 AM

    Lovely.

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    Mute David Owens
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    Jul 30th 2024, 9:59 AM

    Great journalism – and a great performance

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    Mute Ciaran O Donoghue
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    Jul 30th 2024, 7:57 AM

    Those times are making my head hurt. Where is the extra 0.01 coming from?!?!

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    Mute Alan Kennedy
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    Jul 30th 2024, 10:34 AM

    @Ciaran O Donoghue: That last bit of penne pasta she was going to leave on the plate but decided not to!

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    Mute Eugene O'Curry
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    Jul 31st 2024, 5:20 PM

    Great piece of writing Sinéad, appropriately matching an outstanding performance!

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