Subscribe now

Life

Pregnant pause over iron-pill risk

26 October 2005

PREGNANT women who take iron supplements could put their children at risk of developing behavioural problems, a study says.

Maria Makrides of the Child Health Research Institute at the University of Adelaide, Australia, identified 430 women with normal iron levels at the start of pregnancy and gave half daily 20mg iron supplements throughout pregnancy, when iron demands are high.

When the same parents were later asked about behavioural problems such as hyperactivity, a statistically significant difference was found in a small number of children. Makrides presented her preliminary findings to the Haematology Society of Australia & New Zealand in Sydney…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

Popular articles

Trending New Scientist articles

Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop