Good to Know!
PreferaOB™ contains an optimal dose of iron in the form of heme iron polypeptide (HIP) combined with Polysaccharide Iron Complex to optimize bioavailability and minimize undesirable side effects.
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Anemia during Pregnancy
Anemia is a serious problem for women of child bearing age, because it can have devastating effects on their babies. Anemia usually is caused by deficiencies of iron and, rarely, of folic acid (folate).
Anemia develops slowly after normal stores of iron have been depleted. Women, in general, have smaller stores of iron than men and experience blood loss through menstruation. Therefore, anemia is more common in women than in men. During pregnancy, iron stores need to support the needs of mother and her growing fetus, who needs iron for the development of red blood cells, blood vessels, and muscle.
Approximately 95% of anemia cases during pregnancy are caused by iron deficiency.1 Inadequate dietary intake, normal menstrual blood loss, or recent pregnancy are the most common reasons for low iron reserves in pregnant women. During late pregnancy, especially during the last trimester, the rapidly-growing placenta and fetus increase maternal iron requirements. The mother’s body is designed to meet this higher demand for iron with a natural boost in red blood cell production. However, an even more pronounced increase in plasma volume leads to hemodilution, or hydremia of pregnancy. Hemodilution causes a drop in hematocrit (Hct) values from the normal range between 38% and 45% in non-pregnant women to between 30% and 34% in late pregnancy. This drop in red blood cell count makes it nearly impossible for women to build up their iron reserves during that time, especially with conventional prenatal vitamins that contain low amounts of poorly-absorbed iron.
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Effects of Anemia during Pregnancy on Mother and Child
If you are anemic, you may have no symptoms at all.3 You may feel weak and fatigued, especially when your baby’s weight becomes more significant towards the end of your pregnancy. Iron deficiency anemia sometimes leads to light-headedness and to mild dyspnea with activities such as climbing stairs. More severe anemia can cause tachycardia and hypotension and requires the attention of a qualified medical professional.
Maternal iron deficiency can have significant consequences for the development of your child. A retrospective analysis conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found an increased risk of preterm birth in mothers with low hemoglobin levels during the first two trimesters of pregnancy.19 In non-African American women, moderately low maternal hemoglobin, defined as 9.0<10.0 g/dL during the first trimester and as 8.5<9.5 g/dL during the second trimester, also was associated with a higher risk of still birth.20 In addition, women with hemoglobin <10 g/dL during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy had a three-fold greater risk (OR 3.14) than their non-anemic counterparts of giving birth to an infant with low birth weight.21
Babies born to mothers with iron deficiency anemia usually present with low total iron stores and require dietary iron supplements.3 Iron supplementation of newborns is undesirable because iron can cause serious intestinal discomfort in their immature digestive systems. Iron deficiency during gestation and lactation also is associated with changes in nervous system development and functioning.23 For many children, iron deficiency remains a problem for years. According to the CDC, 7% of one-to-two-year-olds in the United States are iron deficient and 2% present with iron deficiency anemia.17 Children with iron deficiency anemia perform more poorly in cognitive and motor skills tests and show delayed social and emotional development.23
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PreferaOB for Iron Supplementation
To avoid iron deficiency during pregnancy, a woman should have an iron reserve of approximately 300 mg prior to conception.18 However, in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), 52% of women of child-bearing age did not meet that requirement.24 Therefore, even though there is some concern about possible overdose from daily iron supplementation, iron is an important component included in almost all prenatal dietary supplements.3
Dietary iron supplements need to be taken over the course of several months to be effective. In pregnant women, iron supplementation through the use of a daily multivitamin during the first two trimesters resulted in significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of serum iron (ferritin) levels at Week 28 of pregnancy when compared with non-use.25 A review of literature indicated that prenatal iron supplementation resulted in higher maternal hemoglobin levels during pregnancy but also after birth. 26 Iron supplementation during late pregnancy usually does not affect maternal prenatal health or delivery, but it does improve iron status throughout the first year of life.18
PreferaOB contains Heme Iron Polypeptide (HIP) and Polysaccharide Iron Complex (PIC) which are both absorbed through different mechanisms from standard prenatal irons such as ferrous fumarate or ferrous sulfate. This combination works together to increase iron aborption by up to 40%.13
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What is Heme Iron Polypeptide (HIP)?
Heme iron polypeptide (HIP as Proferrin®*33), or heme iron, is the natural carrier of iron found in red meat. Heme iron is obtained from red blood cells by extracting hemoglobin molecules and removing the proteins attached to it. This creates the unique molecular structure of heme iron and allows it to be absorbed more efficiently than iron salts, such as ferrous sulfate, used in conventional iron supplements. Due to its highly-efficient absorption, heme iron is generally free of the side-effects, including stomach irritation and constipation, commonly found with conventional iron products.
In addition, heme iron does not require any additional ingredients to facilitate absorption such as vitamin C. Heme iron is not impacted by consumption of phytates (found in cereal grains), tannins (found in tea), phospates (found is soda), or PPI (proton-pump inhibitors) use4,5.
*Proferrin® is heme iron polypeptide. Proferrin® is a registered trademark of Colorado Biolabs, Inc.,Cozad, NE.
Warnings: Accidental overdosage of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.
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Non-Heme Iron Supplements
Conventional iron supplements, whether they are available over the counter (OTC) or with prescription only, usually contain ionic iron (iron salts) such as ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, carbonyl iron, ferrous gluconate, or ferrous bis-glycinate. These supplements need to be taken for several months to affect blood iron levels because they are poorly absorbed.
Conventional iron supplements require an acidic stomach to be absorbed. This can become problematic because stomach acidity is decreased by common medications such as proton-pump inhibitors and by many foods5. Most people take micronutrient supplements with meals rather than on an empty stomach as is required for better absorption of conventional iron supplements. As discussed above, increasing iron doses usually leads to oxidative stress and intestinal distress rather than to increased absorption.18 These unpleasant side-effects have been associated with poor patient compliance.31,32 Coated “slow-release” versions of iron tablets result in fewer gastrointestinal distress but show even lower absorption rates than uncoated, conventional iron supplements.
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The information on this site is in no way meant to replace the treatment & supervision from a medical provider. All information is intended for informational purposes only.
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