Boosting Iron May Boost Female Fertility

Low supplies of the nutrient impede successful pregnancy, research suggests

By Amanda Gardner
HealthDay Reporter

Related Encyclopedia • Abdominoplasty • Acidophilus • AIDS and HIV Infection • Amenorrhea More... Related Healthscout Videos Preventing Breast Cancer Tracking Breast Cancer Treatment Easier Radiation for Breast Cancer Fighting HIV More... Related Animations • Breast Reduction • Breast Self-Exam Video • Erectile Dysfunction • Facelift More... Related Drug Information • Actonel • Cialis • Detrol LA • Diflucan More... Related News Articles • Health Tip: Eating After Weight-Loss Surgery • Some Female Athletes Risking Weaker Bones • A Happy Halloween Means Safety First • Exercise Helps Overweight Youngsters Learn More...

TUESDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Women who took extra iron dramatically reduced their risk of developing ovulatory infertility compared with women who did not take extra iron, researchers report.

"It's actually a very simple problem to correct with iron supplements and probably a multivitamin," added Dr. Jennifer Wu, an obstetrician/gynecologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "It would be a very easy fix for infertility if iron plays a role in ovulatory dysfunction."

Text Continues Below

---

But even such a simple solution may not yet be ready for widespread use, she said.

"This is just one study," Wu said. "We need more studies with larger numbers to indicate what exact level of iron supplement is ideal for women attempting conception."

She was not involved with the study, which is published in the November issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

According to the study, iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world. Women of childbearing age are at increased risk for the condition, since menstruation, pregnancy and lactation take their toll on the body's iron supplies.

For this trial, Harvard researchers looked at data on more than 18,500 married, premenopausal women who were participating in the Nurses' Health Study II. None of the women had a history of infertility and all attempted or actually became pregnant between 1991 and 1999. Diet was assessed twice and then correlated to the incidence of infertility.

The researchers looked specifically at the use of iron supplements, intake of iron in the diet (supplements plus food) and whether there was a difference between "heme" iron (from animal sources) and nonheme iron (from vegetables sources and supplements).

During an eight-year follow-up, "women who consumed nonheme iron had a significantly lower risk of infertility due to ovulation when compared to women who were consuming low iron or heme iron," said study author Dr. Jorge E. Chavarro, a research fellow in the department of nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health. Women should also inform their physician if they plan to boost their iron intake, he added.

Page:  1 | 2 | Next >>