Get $200 with your 1st order. Same day blood tests, next day results. Google reviews

Private MD News

Home | News | Anemia and RBC disorders

Low iron in womb may impair brain development in infants

Category: Anemia and RBC disorders

Low blood iron may delay the development of the auditory nervous system in preemies, according to new research from the University of Rochester Medical Center.

"We are concerned by these findings because of its potential implications for language development," said Dr Sanjiv Amin, associate professor of Pediatrics at the university and lead researcher.

Iron plays a significant role in brain development in the womb, and the researchers evaluated 80 infants over 18 months, giving them blood tests for iron levels and then measuring the maturity of the brain's auditory system. They found that the brains of infants with low iron levels in their cord blood had slower maturation of the auditory system. This delay may affect a baby's ability to process sound, which could then lead to problems with language development in early childhood.

"More study is needed to fully understand what this delay in maturation means," Amin said. "This finding at least underscores an already understood need to monitor iron levels in pregnant women."

According to the study authors, as many as 30 percent of pregnant women of lower socio-economic status are iron-deficient. The condition can lead to anemia in pregnant women, which can cause a host of problems with the pregnancy.

Related Articles from Private MD:

News Categories:

Advanced Lipid Treatment I   Allergy Testing   Anemia and RBC disorders   Autoimmune Diseases   Bariatric Lab Testing   Blood and Blood Diseases   Breast   Cancer Detection and Tumor Markers   Celiac Disease Testing   Chlamydia   Coagulation and blood clotting disorders   Colon   DNA, Paternity and Genetic testing   Diabetes   Drug Screening   Environmental Toxin Testing   Female Specific Tests   Gastrointestinal Diseases   General Health   General Wellness   HIV   HIV monitoring/Treatment/Testing/Post Diagnos   Heart Health and Cholesterol   Herpes   Hormones and Metabolism   Infectious Diseases   Infertility Testing-Male   Infertitlity Hormone Testing   Kidney Diseases   Leukemia and WBC disorders   Liver   Liver Diseases   Lyme Disease   Male Specific Tests   Menopause/Peri-Menopausal Diagnosis   Musculoskeletal Diseases   Nicotine Screening   Organ Specific Testing   Ovarian   Prostate   Prostate   Sexually Transmitted Diseases   Thyroid Diseases   Transgender Hormone Testing-Male to Female   Transgender Hormone Testing-female to male   Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment   

Visit the Health News Archive: Click Here

Questions about online blood testing or how to order a lab test?

Speak with our Wellness Team: (877) 283-7882
Back to top