Effect of high-dose iron supplements on fractional zinc absorption and status in pregnant women

Harvey, Linda J, Dainty, Jack R, Hollands, Wendy J, Bull, Victoria J, Hoogewerff, Jurian A, Foxall, Robert J, McAnena, Liadhan, Strain, J J and Fairweather-Tait, Susan J (2007) Effect of high-dose iron supplements on fractional zinc absorption and status in pregnant women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85 (1). pp. 131-136. ISSN 0002-9165

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Abstract

Background: Women have an increased risk of iron deficiency during pregnancy because of the demands of the developing fetus. Iron supplements are commonly advocated as a prophylactic treatment and are generally taken with meals to reduce side effects, but iron can interfere with the absorption of zinc. Objective: The aim was to determine the effect of consuming an iron supplement (100 mg Fe/d as ferrous gluconate) with meals from 16 wk gestation to term on zinc status and absorption. Design: Stable-isotope techniques were used to measure zinc status (exchangeable zinc pool, EZP) and fractional zinc absorption (FZA) in early and late pregnancy from a meal consumed at a different time from that of iron supplement or placebo consumption in 6 women given iron supplements and 7 given a placebo. Results: FZA increased during pregnancy, independent of iron supplementation. FZA was significantly higher (P < 0.001) at week 34 than at weeks 16 and 24, and urinary zinc excretion was higher at week 34 than at week 16 (P = 0.02). The size of the EZP remained unchanged throughout pregnancy and was unaffected by iron supplementation. The iron status of iron-supplemented women was higher than that of the placebo group. Conclusions: In iron-replete pregnant women who consumed a Western diet, no detectable adverse effects on zinc metabolism were observed after ingestion of 100 mg Fe/d. An increase in the efficiency of zinc absorption was observed during late pregnancy.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School

Faculty of Science > School of Chemistry (former - to 2024)
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Nutrition and Preventive Medicine
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Musculoskeletal Medicine
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health
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Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 29 Jul 2014 12:24
Last Modified: 06 Feb 2025 05:02
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/49138
DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/85.1.131

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