Vitamin Spotlight: How Iron Affects the Body and Pregnancy
October 30, 2015
Iron is an important mineral that is necessary for good health. It is required to make hemoglobin, which is a substance that helps carry oxygen throughout the body. Without adequate iron, the body is unable to make sufficient hemoglobin. And low iron levels can cause a person to become anemic. 1 Untreated, anemia may result in certain, health related problems for pregnant or lactating women. These include rapid or irregular heartbeats in the mother during pregnancy, and increased risk for low birth weight or premature birth for the baby.1
How Much Iron Do I Need?
An expecting mother needs an increase in dietary iron to support both herself and her developing baby. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, a woman should increase her iron intake from 15 mg of iron a day to 18 mg.2
What are the Benefits of Iron?
Iron is an essential mineral in the body’s formation of hemoglobin, the red protein in the blood that is responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body. Sufficient iron helps a growing baby receive the amount of oxygen needed to develop a strong heart, lungs, and muscles. In addition, iron benefits a mother by helping boost her energy and helping keep her muscles, heart, lungs and other organs functioning healthfully.
How Do I Ensure I Am Getting Enough Iron?
Iron is found in many different kinds of foods, including cereals, oysters, beef, beans and lentils. It can, however, be hard to ingest the necessary amount of iron through a regular diet—and especially when pregnant, when iron needs are higher. Doctors will therefore often recommend a dietary supplement containing iron, especially for patients who have a current diagnosis or past history of anemia. There are many different types of iron supplements available, and many prenatal vitamins contain some form of iron supplementation.
Sumalate® (Ferrous asparto glycinate), the iron form used in the Prenate® Vitamin Family prescription prenatal vitamins, is an highly advanced and absorbable form of this crucial mineral. Sumalate® allows for maximum absorption of iron with little to no side effects.
Talk to your healthcare provider about which Prenate® Vitamin Family product may be best for you and your baby. For your convenience, we have included links you can click to learn more about Avion’s Prenate® Vitamin Family and to download special savings coupons.
- Prenate Pixie® – A robust Rx prenatal vitamin with 11 concentrated nutrients, including DHA, in a tiny softgel
- Prenate Mini® – A small, easy-to-swallow softgel with complete prenatal nutrition support, including 350 mg of DHA
