Skip to main content

Study: Lack of iron while pregnant linked to autism

By Paula Wolfson

WASHINGTON — Mothers of autistic children may ask: Could it have been prevented?

There are all kinds of theories surrounding this mysterious neurodevelopmental disorder. One of the latest comes from researchers at the University of California, Davis, who say iron deficiency in pregnancy may increase the risk.

They went through detailed data on 520 pairs of mothers and children with autism, and 346 pairs of mothers and typically developing children. The mothers with autistic children reported lower iron intake, especially in the months before and during early pregnancy.

Word of their findings hit one local doctor especially hard. Chitra Rajagopal is a hematologist in Rockville and the mother of a 21-year-old autistic son, Neil.

She was iron-deficient during her pregnancy — the result of a seven-month battle with nausea that reduced her to eating little more than white noodles.

When she heard of the California study, which was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, her heart broke.

“The first thought, obviously, was ‘I wonder if I could have prevented my son from having to struggle for the rest of his life,'” Rajagopal recalls.

While she knows it’s an early bit of research, she felt incredibly sad.

Rajagopal says the whole issue of autism is much more complex than just iron. In most cases, she notes, iron deficiency is preventable with simple supplementation.

Pregnant women need twice the normal level of iron, because their red cell volume increases significantly. Dr. Michelle Spector, chair of the OB-GYN department at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, says, “I think it is very important that patients take adequate iron.”

Spector says iron is a vital component in the development of a baby, and at the very least, this new research sends a strong message to women and their doctors about the need for vigilance.

It’s already known that iron-deficient mothers are more likely to have small or pre-term babies, and anemic infants can have delayed motor function. That is why doctors routinely check hemoglobin levels — a key indicator of anemia — at regular intervals, and urge pregnant women to take the necessary iron supplements.

Still, there are women whose iron levels drops much more than expected, and those patients often end up seeing a hematologist, such as Rajagopal.

She says concern about a possible association between iron and autism “made me resolve to the best for my ability for every single iron-deficient woman that comes across my path, I will make sure that they are iron

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote