Iron
During fetal development, iron plays a profound role in organ development, particularly the brain, known as the key element to support ‘pregnancy fatigue’.
Iron NRV:
The Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) of Iron is 14mg. Our daily supplement contains 18mg, that's 123% of the recommended amount. What does this look like? Well, 18mg amounts to roughly 3 bags of spinach or 1.5 bars of 70% chocolate…
Major Functions:
- Iron Ferronyl ™ allows the blood to transport oxygen and is a major component of haemoglobin, myoglobin, and many enzymes.
Benefits:
Iron is an essential mineral, vital for energy levels and exercise performance. During foetal development, iron plays a profound role in organ development, particularly the brain.
It is harder to source iron with less meat in the diet and women are at risk of deficiency due to menstruation. Iron deficiency anaemia is common in pregnancy, for example at some point during pregnancy over 20% of all pregnant women in Europe will suffer from anaemia. This is due the volume of blood in the body increasing by as much as 50% (this in turn decreases the bloods’ haemoglobin concentration) to support both the mother and the growing baby. This condition is associated with numerous unwanted symptoms including tiredness, fatigue, finding it difficult to concentrate, irritability, dizziness, and heart palpitations.
Iron levels are monitored throughout pregnancy, however if they drop a huge dose will be administered to get them to normal. Her.9 provides a little helping dose every day, right from the start of pregnancy, to prevent iron levels from dropping in the first place.
In multi-ingredients formulations, as seen in Her.9, a common problem posed with the use of Iron is the blockage of absorption of other nutrients and therefore Her.9 contains Ferrochel®, a highly bioavailable and chelated form of iron that supports enhanced absorption and less gastrointestinal upset.
Food Sources:
- Beans
- Nuts
- Dried fruits
- Kretchmer, N., Beard, J. L., & Carlson, S. (1996). The role of nutrition in the development of normal cognition. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 63(6), 997S-1001S.
- Stoltzfus, R. J., Chway, H. M., Montresor, A., Tielsch, J. M., Jape, J. K., Albonico, M., & Savioli, L. (2004). Low dose daily iron supplementation improves iron status and appetite but not anemia, whereas quarterly anthelmintic treatment improves growth, appetite and anemia in Zanzibari preschool children. The Journal of nutrition, 134(2), 348-356.
- Chen, M. H., Su, T. P., Chen, Y. S., Hsu, J. W., Huang, K. L., Chang, W. H., ... & Bai, Y. M. (2013). Association between psychiatric disorders and iron deficiency anemia among children and adolescents: a nationwide population-based study. BMC psychiatry, 13(1), 161.
- Black, M. M. (2003). Micronutrient deficiencies and cognitive functioning. The Journal of nutrition, 133(11), 3927S-3931S.
- Ortega, R. M., González-Fernández, M., Paz, L., Andrés, P., Jiménez, L. M., Jiménez, M. J., ... & Gaspar, M. J. (1993). Influence of iron status on attention and intellectual performance of a population of Spanish adolescents. Archivos latinoamericanos de nutricion, 43(1), 6-11.
- Colman, K. and Pavord, S. (2017). Iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy Information for patients. [online] .
- Bothwell, T.H. (2000). Iron requirements in pregnancy and strategies to meet them. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, [online] 72(1 Suppl), pp.257S264S.