根據一篇發表於今年九月的一篇研究發現，孕婦若是沒有補充鐵質，本身又是超過35歲，又有肥胖等代謝問題，小孩罹患自閉症的風險將提高5倍。
從2002年到2009年，研究人員透過346位孕婦以及追蹤她們小孩健康情形分析所得到結論。這是第一篇探討孕期母親鐵質的補充和自閉症風險關聯的研究，過去研究大多著重於葉酸補充和自閉症關聯。
"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," Schmidt said. "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."
"Iron deficiency is pretty common, and even more common among women with metabolic conditions," Schmidt said. "However we want to be cautious and wait until this study has been replicated.
一般來說，鐵質缺乏容易導致貧血，尤其是孕期，估計有40-50%的孕婦和她們的小孩。鐵質對於小孩大腦早期的發育來說關係緊要，同時對於神經傳導物質的製造、甲基化以及免疫功能有直接相關。這三部分皆是目前自閉症罹患不能不提的導因。
建議孕婦在孕期，務必補充足夠的營養，降低孩童自閉症發生風險，尤其是葉酸或者鐵質更不能忽略。
參考文獻:
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/publish/news/newsroom/9189
Rebecca J. Schmidt et al. Maternal intake of supplemental iron and risk for autism spectrum disorders. American Journal of Epidemiology, September 2014
留言列表
