Hematogen in pregnancy: benefits and harms

It's hard to find someone who has never tried a candy bar called Hematogen. Sweet brown bars can be bought in pharmacies and retail chains. Children perceive this product as a treat, adults - as a useful food supplement. Hematogen should not be eaten without restrictions, it is not an ordinary food bar. Information about the peculiarities of consuming the sweet dietary supplement, which looks like an ordinary chocolate bar, can be read on the original packaging. Pregnant women who plan to include hematogen in the list of necessary nutritional supplements and vitamins should consult their doctor.

What is hematogen and what is it made of

Hematogen bar consists of black albumin, nutritional and formative supplements. The active ingredient of the dietary supplement is reflected in its name. Hematogen in Latin means blood, gene - the root word for birth, genesis. The result is Haematogenum (hematogenum), literally translated as "generating blood.

Albumin is obtained from the fresh blood of cows, bulls and pigs. Raw material is collected at meat packing plants and purified from fibrin, a protein formed during blood clotting. After removing fibrin clots and fibers, the raw material remains liquid. Blood undergoes several stages of processing and disinfection. Black albumin is dried, evaporated to obtain powder. Drying is carried out in sterile spray nozzles and disc sprayers.

Food albumin is a blood protein containing large amounts of iron. It is a source of protein including hundreds of amino acids. Albumin also contains carbohydrates, lecithin, fats, mineral salts, sugar and other substances.

The technological process of making hematogen includes several steps.

1. Mixing of starch treacle, margarine, sweet condensed milk, sugar syrup.
2. Heating the mixture to a temperature of +125°C.
3. Cooling the viscous mass to +60°C.
4. Introduction of serum albumin ("Black food albumin"). To increase the iron content iron sulfate (sulfuric iron 7-water), pantohematogen-S is added.
5. Putting the paste in the molding machine, which makes bars. The finished product is similar in viscosity and consistency to bar toffee.

On sale is both classic hematogen with the traditional taste and smell, and products with flavors, nuts, vanillin, coconut shavings, berries, cocoa, fruit, milk, honey, ascorbic acid and other additives. Iron preparations included in the dietary supplement give the product a specific taste that not all people like.

The ratio of proteins, carbohydrates, mineral salts and fats included in hematogen corresponds to the ratio of these substances in the human body. The chemical composition of albumin coincides with the mineral and material composition of human blood.

Black albumin is used not only for hematogen production. It is added to sausages and other by-products produced by meat processing plants.

Is it possible to eat hematogen during pregnancy

Manufacturers of the product indicate that this food additive should not be eaten during pregnancy and breastfeeding. But many gynecologists and therapists have a different opinion and allow future mothers to take the dietary supplement. The amount of hematogen is determined personally for each woman.

Lack of important elements, metabolic disorders are the cause of poor health of the pregnant woman. With iron deficiency in the body, the following symptoms are observed:

• constant weakness;
• apathy;
• sleepiness in the daytime;
• blueness of the lips;
• stomatitis;
• digestive disorders;
• lack of energy;
• poor appetite;
• increased frequency of respiratory illnesses;
• brittle and dull hair.

Hemoglobin saturates tissues and cells with oxygen. If there is not enough iron, there are symptoms of oxygen deprivation. The expectant mother's blood pressure drops, the woman feels lethargic and weak. Hypoxia can lead to premature labor and even placental detachment. Oxygen metabolism is disturbed, resulting in retarded growth of the fetus, defects in neuro-psychological development, and often the death of the child.

If a pregnant woman is diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia, the doctor will prescribe medicines containing iron. When deviations from the norm are minor, the gynecologist may prescribe taking hematogen. Many women consider this food supplement safe and very useful. But the expectant mother should by no means self-medicate and eat hematogen in large quantities, like chocolates.

A frivolous attitude to hematogen is the result of confusion in the pharmaceutical classification of drugs. In this document, there is no unambiguous answer as to whether candy bars containing a blood product belong to dietary supplements or to drugs. These "candy bars" are freely available in pharmacies and supermarkets, and can be ordered from online stores. The document refers hematogen to therapeutic and prophylactic means. All manufacturers indicate that the drug corrects metabolic processes.

Only some types of the product are registered as medicines. They are attributed either to the group of drugs affecting hematopoiesis, or to iron preparations.

Some manufacturers classify hematogen as a dietary supplement, which allows the product to be sold in supermarkets. Therefore, a pregnant woman should listen to her doctor and not rely on advertising and other sources of information.

For therapeutic purposes hematogen is prescribed only as part of complex therapy. Many doctors opt for medications, and instead of supplements, recommend including in the diet foods that stimulate hematopoiesis and contain large amounts of the deficient element.

Hematogen and iron-containing preparations are necessarily prescribed for women at possible risk.

This includes:

1. Women who have had anemia during previous pregnancies.
2. Pregnant minors.
3. Expectant mothers suffering from chronic diseases - diabetes, tonsillitis, heart defects, rheumatism, nephritis, chronic gastritis.
4. Women who become pregnant while breastfeeding.
5. Practicing vegetarianism.
6. Expectant mothers who are often ill with viral diseases.
7. Pregnant women with a risk of miscarriage.
8. Women with multiple pregnancies.

Early pregnancy

In the first trimester of pregnancy, many women suffer from toxicosis, which most often manifests as nausea. This leads to a deterioration of the general condition, poor absorption of food and vitamins, weakness, apathy, and loss of appetite. During this period, iron deficiency anemia may develop. Your doctor may recommend dietary supplements during the first months of pregnancy to prevent iron deficiency in the body.

In the first three months of pregnancy, systems and organs of the future child are formed, so it is important that the mother has enough iron and oxygen. Hematogen will help to make up for the lack of valuable elements.

The dietary supplements will not get rid of toxemia, nausea and malaise. But sugar saturates the body with fast carbohydrates, and iron activates the processes of hematopoiesis. When toxicosis, it is good to carry hematogen with you, along with a bag of nuts and dried fruit, to put a piece in your mouth during an attack of nausea.

2nd trimester.

In the 2nd trimester, hemoglobin levels decrease, a common occurrence in pregnant women. The baby rapidly gains weight, the amount of blood circulating in the body of the expectant mother increases one and a half times. As a result, there is a general deficit of iron. This element cannot be replenished by a single intake of iron-containing products or drugs.

If the decrease in hemoglobin occurs gradually and does not reach a critical level, doctors do not consider the situation dangerous. To replenish the important element in the menu include protein products - beef, fish, poultry. Buckwheat contains a lot of iron. It is recommended to eat any citrus products, seasonal vegetables and greens, pomegranates, in winter - dried fruits.

During this period, iron deficiency is compensated with medicines and food supplements, including hematogen. A sharp decrease in hemoglobin levels is often fixed at the end of the 4th month of pregnancy, at the same time, replenishing agents are prescribed.

3rd trimester

In the last three months of pregnancy, iron deficiency affects 90% of women. The hemoglobin level continues to decrease. For example, if in the first trimester the woman's blood hemoglobin content was 130 g/l, in the second trimester it was 125 g/l, in the third trimester it will be 110-112 g/l.

After the birth of a child, the deficiency is not immediately compensated. It takes 2 to 3 years for the body to fully recover (according to some doctors - 4-5 years).

During this period, it is important to eat right, but this is not enough. If the doctor considers the drop in hemoglobin levels critical, replacement therapy is prescribed. If a woman was taking hematogen in the 2nd trimester, the doctor may increase the daily dose of the supplement or prescribe medication.

It is important for expectant mothers to pay attention to the combination of products, it is better to consult a nutritionist on this issue. Some pregnant women do not digest food well, especially in the last months. This is associated with compression and displacement of internal organs, resulting in constipation.

Digestion of protein food is a complicated process, which may be accompanied by stagnation and putrefaction in the intestines, gas and flatulence, bloating, colic. Milk, cottage cheese and kefir can cause discomfort.

These nuances should be kept in mind when using Hematogen. This food supplement can also cause gas. Iron is absorbed only in the duodenum, a 25-26 cm long area. Whey albumin is not digested and is not completely absorbed, moving further down the intestine. The breakdown products cause the formation of putrefactive microflora in the large intestine. Difficulties in digestion are due to the peculiarities of proteolytic enzymes. They have difficulty dissolving the tough shells of dried red blood cells that make up serum albumin.

How to consume hematogen properly

The bar is divided into sections, allowing you to break the bar into individual bars. The weight of a slice is 5 grams. Manufacturers write that a healthy adult can eat a day a standard bar weighing 40-50 grams. Children can be given from 1-2 slices to half a bar or a whole "children's" bar, which weighs 20-25 grams.

The dosage of the supplement depends on the age and health of the children. It is not recommended to eat a daily portion at once, it is more useful to distribute the treat into several parts throughout the day.

How much you can eat per day

There are different recommendations on the consumption of hematogen by the future mother. But a pregnant woman can eat this supplement only after consulting a doctor.

A woman expecting a child has an iron requirement of 30-35 mg per day. Part of the element comes with food, some comes with medications and supplements. For anemia, it is recommended to eat liver, carrots, dill, chicken eggs and other foods rich in iron.

Usually the doctor allows you to eat 2-3 slices of supplements a day (at the beginning of pregnancy). In the third trimester, the amount of sweetness increases to 20-25 g per day. The duration of the course reception is from 2 to 6 weeks.

The dietary supplement should be consumed between the main meals. In this case, iron will be absorbed better and faster. If pregnant women are assigned antibiotics, the scheme of taking the drug is constructed so that between the consumption of hematogen and the intake of drugs passed at least 2 hours.

Is it allowed to eat at night and on an empty stomach?

Hematogen should not be eaten on an empty stomach and at night, because black whey albumin refers to heavily digested products.

The iron-containing component of the supplement is better absorbed if the dietary supplement is washed down with a drink containing vitamin C. You can prepare water with lemon, currant morsel, make fresh orange juice or buy in the pharmacy effervescent tablets of ascorbic acid and dissolve them in a glass of water.

Do not drink coffee, because caffeine forms a solid substance that prevents the absorption of iron. The same property has tannin contained in any tea. Therefore, tea should not be used to wash down the candy bar either.

Milk is not suitable for drinking Hematogen. It contains calcium, which slows down the absorption of iron.

The benefits of hematogen during pregnancy

Hematogen is well tolerated by the body, since it contains only natural components of animal and plant origin. Modern medicine recognizes the undoubted benefits of this food supplement. It is prescribed to pregnant women as a therapeutic and prophylactic drug:

1. In iron deficiency anemia.
2. Recovery from bacterial and viral infections.
3. Treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers when they are accompanied by minor but frequent bleeding.
4. Recovery after surgical operations.
5. Treatment of blood diseases, one of the symptoms of which is the death of red blood cells.
6. Iron deficiency in the usual diet.
7. Prolonged antibiotic therapy.
8. Residence in localities with unfavorable ecology.
9. Psycho-emotional overload.
10. After a long period of malnutrition.
11. In stressful situations.

This dietary supplement stimulates the process of hematopoiesis, improves the absorption of an important element through the intestinal wall. When using hematogen in the blood plasma, in all fluids and cells, the amount of ferritin increases. The content of hemoglobin increases.

The food supplement is rich in vitamin A, which improves the condition of hair, nails and skin. Doctors recommend taking dietary supplements for people with eye diseases.

Normal iron content in the blood, good oxygen metabolism in the body of a pregnant woman is very important for the future baby. The baby, receiving the necessary substances, vitamins and elements, develops normally, gains weight, all systems of the body are formed in time.

Some women are forced to take supplements throughout pregnancy, the therapy takes several courses. Hematogen has clear advantages over "serious" drugs. It has a sweet taste and is perceived not only as a medicinal supplement, but also as a confectionery product that will support strength in any situation.

Expectant mothers note that the effect of taking medication and hematogen only lasts while taking the remedies. Immediately after discontinuing the course, hemoglobin begins to fall again. Hematogen, unlike medication, can be taken not by courses, but continuously, maintaining iron levels at the right level.

Can Hematogen harm the mother-to-be?

If used improperly and consumed without the consent of the attending physician, hematogen can harm the future mother.

1. This dietary supplement contains sugar, so it should not be eaten with diabetes.
2. The sweet drug should not be consumed by people suffering from obesity.
3. Hematogen penetrates into breast milk, so it is excluded during breastfeeding.
4. The product is contraindicated in hypervitaminosis caused by an overabundance of vitamin A. The disease is accompanied by flaky skin, rashes, hair loss, joint pain, fever, anxiety, excitability, nausea, in severe cases - vomiting.
5. The supplement is not prescribed for normal and elevated blood iron levels.
6. The supplement is contraindicated if you are prone to varicose veins. The food supplement can provoke the formation of blood clots, including in the placenta, leading to the death of the fetus.
7. Hematogen should not be eaten if you are hypersensitive to the ingredients in the product. Allergies manifest themselves as skin itching and rashes (rashes or hives), diarrhea or constipation, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms.
8. Animal blood intended for hematogen production goes through several stages of purification. But there is still a small risk of infection to the consumer. In the albumin serum can penetrate substances given to steers for weight gain, antibiotics and other drugs, as well as microorganisms.
9. It is categorically forbidden to eat hematogen bars like candy, especially in inordinate amounts. This is important for all sweet lovers, and especially for pregnant women. An overdose can lead to the most unpleasant consequences.

Hematogen is not only produced according to state standards. According to the law, this is not required. Therefore, surrogates with similar names, such as Hematogenka, appear on the market. Such products are saturated with solid and liquid additives, which occupy a larger volume of the bar, and the amount of albumin is reduced many times. This is done to reduce the cost of production.

You can not buy expensive albumin whey in large quantities, and simply add condensed milk, sunflower oil and flour. A pregnant woman who buys such a product for medicinal purposes will not receive any health benefits. If the doctor allowed the use of hematogen as a source of iron, it is better to buy a product from a proven manufacturer, working according to the old standards.

Interesting Facts

Hematogen has been produced since the end of the 19th century. A nutritional supplement with this name appeared in pharmacies in Switzerland back in 1890. The drug was invented by doctor Adolf Hommel (Dr. Adolf Hommel). Hematogen was treated as medicine, since at that time there were no other remedies for correcting the iron content in the blood. The drug was liquid, packaged in beautifully shaped bottles with branded embossing. The mixture consisted of bull's blood and egg yolk. It was sold not only in Switzerland but also in Russia.

Enterprises of Soviet Russia continued to produce hematogen in 1917, immediately after the revolution. And in 1924, a new pharmacological association - Gosmedtorg - took over the production. Its enterprises were located in the livestock regions of Central Asia, Siberia, Armenia and the Urals.

The Soviet mixture was different from Dr. Gommel's medicine. It was a viscous, sweet liquid consisting of a solution of hemoglobin in glycerin. Wine was added to the mixture. The concentration of hemoglobin was 70%.

Initially the drug was intended for children and soldiers of the Red Army, as well as patients who needed hemoglobin correction. As soon as the production went on stream, hematogen appeared on the free market. The medicinal supplement was sold in dark glass bottles of 250 ml.

In the postwar years, this food supplement acquired a modern look. Hematogen began to be produced in the form of bars, little different in form from the toffee bars.

In Europe, Gommel's Hematogen was produced until 1920, after which information about the production of the drug is lost. Now the foreign press sometimes mentions the Russian "barbaric" blood medicine, forgetting that the homeland of hematogen is Switzerland. Dr. Gommel was a pioneer in the use of blood to treat patients, and his method works to this day.

Interestingly, there are no blood cures in European folk medicine. Herbals and healers used herbs, roots and leaves of plants, as well as natural products - honey, tar, wine, propolis.

Animal blood was used to make foodstuffs. In Russia and Ukraine, blood sausage was made and cakes were baked. Ireland, Germany, Finland, and other European countries made not only sausages, but also the original blood soup. Fresh blood was used in canning vegetables and as a thickener in sauces for second courses.

Fresh blood-based dishes are prepared in Thailand, Greenland, and highland Tibet. In Africa, the Maasai tribe eat cow's blood diluted with milk.

Debates about the properties of hematogen have been going on for decades. Some people believe that the dietary supplement does little good for replenishing iron deficiency. But medical studies from decades ago say the product is effective and safe, including for pregnant women.