Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Relation to Maternal Dietary Heme Iron and Nonheme Iron Intake
Chunfang Qiu, Cuilin Zhang, Bizu Gelaye, Daniel A. Enquobahrie, Ihunnaya O. Frederick, Michelle Anne Williams · Diabetes Care (2011)
TL;DR
Studies suggest that eating higher amounts of heme iron before and during early pregnancy is linked to a higher risk of gestational diabetes.
What they did
Researchers tracked 3,158 pregnant women in a prospective study. They used food questionnaires to measure how much heme and nonheme iron the women ate before and during early pregnancy. They then recorded who developed gestational diabetes.
What they found
About 5.0% of the women developed gestational diabetes (n=158). Women who ate the most heme iron (≥1.52 vs. <0.48 mg per day) had a 3.31-fold higher risk of developing the condition. Each 1-mg per day increase in heme iron was linked to a 51% increased risk. Nonheme iron intake was not significantly linked to risk, with relative risks of 1.00, 0.83, 0.62, and 0.61 across intake groups.
Why it matters
Iron comes in different dietary forms, and studies suggest that the source of iron may matter. Heme iron comes from animal sources, while nonheme iron comes from plants and fortified foods. Learning how different foods affect blood sugar may help guide healthy food choices before and during pregnancy.
Limits
The authors noted that the findings for nonheme iron were less clear and that future studies are needed to confirm the results. The abstract does not list other specific study limitations. This is general education, not medical advice.
Jargon explained
- Heme iron
- A type of iron found mainly in meat, poultry, and seafood.
- Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
- A type of high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy.
Read the original: https://doi.org/10.2337/dc11-0135
Full citation
Chunfang Qiu, Cuilin Zhang, Bizu Gelaye, Daniel A. Enquobahrie, Ihunnaya O. Frederick, Michelle Anne Williams (2011). Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Relation to Maternal Dietary Heme Iron and Nonheme Iron Intake. Diabetes Care. DOI: 10.2337/dc11-0135
Open access (hybrid): https://doi.org/10.2337/dc11-0135
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Educational information only, not medical or dietary advice. Consult a qualified health professional for personal nutrition guidance.