Pregnant women should not take iron and calcium at the same time

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Pham Thi Yen - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital. Doctor has more than 10 years of experience in examination and treatment in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Calcium and iron are two extremely important substances for pregnant women. However, taking iron and calcium at the same time will interfere with the absorption of the substance.

In the process of forming red blood cells and forming immune system enzymes, helping to strengthen the body's resistance, iron plays an extremely important role. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia as well as fatigue, especially for pregnant women, iron deficiency can also affect the development of the fetus.
The transport of oxygen to the mother's body and the fetus will be severely affected if iron deficiency is present. Usually a woman during pregnancy needs more blood than usual, this helps to enhance the health and development needs of the fetus.
Besides, iron supplementation also has the effect of increasing appetite. For pregnant women who suffer from anemia (due to iron deficiency) will have anorexia, difficulty sleeping, fatigue because the amount of oxygen to the brain as well as the cells in the body is very little. Iron deficiency is also the cause of decreased maternal resistance leading to infection. This more or less affects babies born at high risk of anemia, leading to poor health.
For mothers, iron deficiency will increase the risk of premature birth, postpartum infections, postpartum hemorrhage, body weakness... This is also a factor leading to fetal malnutrition, prematurity, mildness weight, affecting the physical and mental development of children in the future.

Calcium is an important factor in the formation of bones and teeth and ensures the development of the fetus. Throughout pregnancy, calcium requirements continuously increase. If the amount of calcium is not met, it will adversely affect the future development of the fetus such as growth retardation, rickets or bone deformities.
Calcium supplements for pregnant women also have an important meaning for the health of pregnant women. When calcium deficiency, pregnant women often experience numbness in the legs, fatigue, and insomnia. When breastfeeding, the mother's body is weak, or sweaty, prone to back pain, shoulder fatigue, joint pain. A long-term calcium deficiency after many births is a prerequisite for osteoporosis when mothers enter menopause.
So what time of day should pregnant women take calcium? Usually in the morning is the time when you can be exposed to more sunlight, as well as taking calcium in the evening or afternoon will cause calcium deposition, causing diseases such as kidney stones, constipation,.... The ideal time to supplement is after breakfast.

When supplementing with iron, pregnant women should be careful not to take iron pills at the same time as milk, calcium or calcium-rich foods because calcium interferes with iron absorption. Iron is a very difficult nutrient to absorb, and calcium slows this process down. Therefore, pregnant women should not take iron and calcium pills at the same time.
To avoid possible interactions, doctors advise pregnant women to take these two nutrients within a few hours of each other. Here are some notes when taking iron and calcium supplements during pregnancy:

Calcium supplements:
Pay attention to providing enough calcium not to exceed 2,500mg/day to avoid overdose, causing hypercalcemia. When supplementing with calcium, pregnant women should note that they should not be combined with foods such as chocolate, tea, and coffee to avoid interactions that may reduce calcium absorption. Iron supplements:
Should take iron tablets on an empty stomach and drink with water rich in vitamin C such as orange juice, lemon juice... In addition, when taking iron supplements pregnant women need to drink a lot of water and eat foods High-fiber foods to prevent constipation. The medicine should only be taken with cooled boiled water, avoid tea or coffee because it will reduce the absorption of iron. When using iron and calcium, pregnant women should consult a doctor to be able to use iron and calcium correctly and in the right dosage.