Question

Which nutrient is mainly deficient in women during pregnancy ?

• A. Iodine
• B. Fat
• C. Vitamin
• D. Iron

Hint:

A key part of prenatal care is the prescription of iron and folic acid supplements. This is a direct measure to prevent the most common deficiencies associated with pregnancy. Remember the link: Pregnancy \(\rightarrow\) Increased Blood \(\rightarrow\) Increased need for Iron.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes significant changes to support the growing fetus, leading to increased demand for certain nutrients. The question asks for the most common nutrient deficiency.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
During pregnancy, the volume of blood in a woman's body increases by almost 50%. This requires more iron to make more hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The fetus and placenta also have their own iron requirements. Because the demand for iron increases so dramatically, many women become deficient, leading to iron-deficiency anemia. This is the most common nutritional deficiency during pregnancy worldwide.
While other nutrients like iodine, folic acid (a vitamin), and calcium are also crucial, iron deficiency is the most prevalent.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Iron is the nutrient that is most commonly deficient in women during pregnancy.