Maternal Iron Intake Linked to Autism Risk
|
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 28 Sep 2014 |
|
A new study reveals that mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are less likely to have taken iron supplements before and during their pregnancies.
Researchers at the University of California Davis (UCD; USA) and the UCD Mind Institute Clinic (Sacramento, CA, USA) analyzed data from 866 mother-child pairs who were enrolled in the Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment (CHARGE) study between 2002 and 2009; of these, 520 were diagnosed with ASD. The researchers recorded frequency and dosages of maternal iron intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding, including from breakfast cereals, vitamins, and other nutritional supplements.
The results showed that there was a five-fold greater risk in children whose mothers had low supplemental iron and other risk factors for delivering a child with ASD. The association between lower maternal iron intake and increased ASD risk was strongest during breastfeeding (after adjustment for folic acid intake). The risk associated with low maternal iron intake was also greater when the mother was older than 35 years and had metabolic conditions during her pregnancy, such as obesity hypertension or diabetes. The study was published on September 22, 2014, in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
“Iron deficiency, and its resultant anemia, is the most common nutrient deficiency, especially during pregnancy, affecting 40 to 50 percent of women and their infants,” said lead author Rebecca Schmidt, PhD, an assistant professor in the UCD department of public health sciences and affiliated with the MIND Institute. “Iron is crucial to early brain development, contributing to neurotransmitter production, myelination, and immune function. All three of these pathways have been associated with autism.”
ASD affects 6 per 1,000 children, and occurs more often among boys than girls. ASD affect three different areas of a child's life: social interaction, communication (both verbal and nonverbal), and behaviors and interests. The three main types of ASD are Asperger's syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and autistic disorder. The DSM-5 also included two rare but severe autistic-like conditions - Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder.
Related Links:
University of California Davis
UCD Mind Institute Clinic
Researchers at the University of California Davis (UCD; USA) and the UCD Mind Institute Clinic (Sacramento, CA, USA) analyzed data from 866 mother-child pairs who were enrolled in the Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment (CHARGE) study between 2002 and 2009; of these, 520 were diagnosed with ASD. The researchers recorded frequency and dosages of maternal iron intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding, including from breakfast cereals, vitamins, and other nutritional supplements.
The results showed that there was a five-fold greater risk in children whose mothers had low supplemental iron and other risk factors for delivering a child with ASD. The association between lower maternal iron intake and increased ASD risk was strongest during breastfeeding (after adjustment for folic acid intake). The risk associated with low maternal iron intake was also greater when the mother was older than 35 years and had metabolic conditions during her pregnancy, such as obesity hypertension or diabetes. The study was published on September 22, 2014, in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
“Iron deficiency, and its resultant anemia, is the most common nutrient deficiency, especially during pregnancy, affecting 40 to 50 percent of women and their infants,” said lead author Rebecca Schmidt, PhD, an assistant professor in the UCD department of public health sciences and affiliated with the MIND Institute. “Iron is crucial to early brain development, contributing to neurotransmitter production, myelination, and immune function. All three of these pathways have been associated with autism.”
ASD affects 6 per 1,000 children, and occurs more often among boys than girls. ASD affect three different areas of a child's life: social interaction, communication (both verbal and nonverbal), and behaviors and interests. The three main types of ASD are Asperger's syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and autistic disorder. The DSM-5 also included two rare but severe autistic-like conditions - Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder.
Related Links:
University of California Davis
UCD Mind Institute Clinic
Gold Member
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Sample-To-Answer Test
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Cartridge (CE-IVD)
Gas Analyzer
GE SAM
Patient Monitoring System
AlarmSense
Latest Patient Care News
- AI Avatar Doctor Improves Patient Understanding Before Radiotherapy
- Wearable Sleep Data Predict Adherence to Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Revolutionary Automatic IV-Line Flushing Device to Enhance Infusion Care
- VR Training Tool Combats Contamination of Portable Medical Equipment
- Portable Biosensor Platform to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections
- First-Of-Its-Kind Portable Germicidal Light Technology Disinfects High-Touch Clinical Surfaces in Seconds
- Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization
- Game-Changing Innovation in Surgical Instrument Sterilization Significantly Improves OR Throughput
- Next Gen ICU Bed to Help Address Complex Critical Care Needs
- Groundbreaking AI-Powered UV-C Disinfection Technology Redefines Infection Control Landscape
- Clean Hospitals Can Reduce Antibiotic Resistance, Save Lives
- Smart Hospital Beds Improve Accuracy of Medical Diagnosis
- New Fast Endoscope Drying System Improves Productivity and Traceability
- World’s First Automated Endoscope Cleaner Fights Antimicrobial Resistance
- Portable High-Capacity Digital Stretcher Scales Provide Precision Weighing for Patients in ER
- Portable Clinical Scale with Remote Indicator Allows for Flexible Patient Weighing Use
Channels
Artificial Intelligence
view channel
Collaborative AI System Improves Medical Diagnostic Accuracy
Hospitals face a persistent trade-off when deploying artificial intelligence for diagnosis. Broad “generalist” models handle many tasks but often lack disease-specific precision. Narrow “specialist” models... Read more
AI-Powered Brain-Body Interface Supports Movement and Sensation Recovery
Neurological injuries such as stroke and spinal cord trauma frequently leave patients with profound motor and sensory deficits that limit independence. Rehabilitation may restore some movement, but recovery... Read more
Critical Care
view channel
Simple Triage Protocol Reduces Emergency Department Length of Stay
Emergency department (ED) overcrowding prolongs care, raises costs, and places added strain on clinical teams. Many hospitals cannot readily add beds, staff, or space, yet still need to move patients efficiently... Read more
ECG-Based AI Detects Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Heart Failure
Left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction are important cardiac conditions that require accurate detection to support clinical decision-making and care planning.... Read more
Surgical Techniques
view channel
Combined Phage and Microbiota Therapy May Reduce Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections
Recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) are frequent relapses of urinary infections that persist despite standard therapy. They increase morbidity, expose patients to repeated antibiotic courses, and... Read more
New AR Technology Provides Real-Time Guidance During ACL Surgery
Precision during arthroscopic procedures is critical, yet intra-articular orientation can be challenging, and technical errors may compromise outcomes. In anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, tunnel... Read more
Medical Imaging
view channel
‘Local Brain Age’ AI Mapping Tool Reveals Patterns of Cognitive Impairment
Dementia care is hindered by the lack of precise tools to detect and track early neurodegeneration. Conventional brain age measures often compress complex, region-specific changes into a single value,... Read more
Rapid AI System Detects and Classifies Brain Tumor Subtypes on MRI
Brain tumors are a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide, with roughly a quarter of a million deaths each year. Early detection and accurate subtype classification on magnetic resonance imaging are... Read more
Health IT
view channel
Short Digital Training Program Improves Motor Function in Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson's disease causes motor symptoms that interfere with movement and daily activities. Drug treatment is standard care, yet additional approaches are needed to target motor control.... Read more
New Cloud Platform Streamlines Capsule Endoscopy Workflow and Reporting
Capsule endoscopy programs depend on coordinated acquisition, review, and reporting to support gastrointestinal services. Managing these activities across practices and health systems requires reliable... Read more
Point of Care
view channel
New Brain Ultrasound Platform Enables Bedside Postoperative Imaging
Transporting postoperative patients for CT or MRI can create operational burdens, delays, and disruptions in care. Bedside visualization may help reduce transport demands, lower radiation exposure, and... Read more
Handheld Ultrasound Expands Point-of-Care Imaging Access in Brazil
Rapid access to diagnostic imaging is essential across hospitals, emergency departments, clinics, and municipal health systems, but large markets still face uneven availability, particularly in rural regions.... Read more
Business
view channel
AI Software Combines Nodule Detection and Diagnosis for Lung Cancer Screening
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer mortality, and screening programs rely on computed tomography to identify disease earlier when curative treatment is more likely. High patient volumes and... Read more
