- With Mayo Clinic nutritionists
Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
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Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Katherine Zeratsky and Jennifer Nelson
Jennifer K. Nelson, M.S., R.D., L.D., C.N.S.D.
Jennifer Nelson is your link to a better diet. As specialty editor of the nutrition and healthy eating guide, she plays a vital role in bringing you healthy recipes and meal planning."Nutrition is one way people have direct control over the quality of their lives," she says. "I hope to translate the science of nutrition into ways that people can select and prepare great-tasting foods that help maintain health and treat disease."
A St. Paul, Minn., native, she has been with Mayo Clinic since 1978, and is director of clinical dietetics and an associate professor of nutrition at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
She leads clinical nutrition efforts for a staff of more than 60 clinical dietitians and nine dietetic technicians and oversees nutrition services, staffing, strategic and financial planning, and quality improvement. Nelson was co-editor of the "Mayo Clinic Diet" and the James Beard Foundation Award-winning "The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook." She has been a contributing author to and reviewer of many other Mayo Clinic books, including "Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight for EveryBody," "The Mayo Clinic Family Health Book" and "The Mayo Clinic/Williams Sonoma Cookbook." She contributes to the strategic direction of the Food & Nutrition Center, which includes creating recipes and menus, reviewing nutrition content of various articles, and providing expert answers to nutrition questions.
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
As a specialty editor of the nutrition and healthy eating guide, Katherine Zeratsky helps you sort through the facts and figures, the fads and the hype to learn more about nutrition and diet.A Marinette, Wis., native, she is certified in dietetics by the state of Minnesota and the American Dietetic Association. She has been with Mayo Clinic since 1999.
She's active in nutrition-related curriculum and course development in wellness nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and nutrition related to weight management and practical applications of nutrition-related lifestyle changes.
Other areas of interest include food and nutrition for all life stages, active lifestyles and the culinary arts.
She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, served a dietetic internship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and worked as a registered dietitian and health risk counselor at ThedaCare of Appleton, Wis., before joining the Mayo Clinic staff.
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Nutrition-wise blog
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Jan. 30, 2013
Restless legs and iron deficiency in children
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
My children were never what you might call good sleepers as babies. But for one of my sons, the sleep issues continued into his toddler years. However, his midnight visits weren't accompanied by the usual request, "Mommy, can I sleep with you?"
Instead, my son would come to me out of sorts after flopping around in bed like a fish out of water and complain, "Mommy, my body hurts."
So, began the long climb out of iron deficiency.
Iron deficiency is strongly associated with restless leg syndrome in children. And restless leg in children is often underdiagnosed, passed over as growing pains. Another risk factor is family history. Thinking back, yes, there were nights during my pregnancies that I jumped out of bed to ease my restless legs. Iron deficiency can also be a result of celiac and other diseases. Fortunately, that isn't the case for my son.
My toddler started an iron supplement and it helped him sleep. Although doctors and pharmacists alike warned me that I'd struggle to get him to take it, I didn't and still don't.
It's two years later and we are still supplementing. Between growth spurts and the fact that iron is a difficult nutrient to absorb, it's taking time to work up to the iron level that our son's doctor targeted for him.
My son eats meat and some vegetables, not foods that all toddlers like. He's a milk drinker but not excessively so and juice is minimal. Of course, we have the typical toddler feeding issues of eating well one day and not another. And meal planning is a bit more complicated since it involves pairing iron and vitamin C rich foods. But I've got that one covered and I consider us lucky.
To the health of our children,
Katherine
5 comments posted
March 21, 2013 9:30 a.m.
I am really not surprised at this finding! I have had RLS for years, but in the last 2 years diagnosed with Celiac. I can now see the link between the two, and unfortunately, can also see my symptoms in my daughter as well. I'd love to know if there is any link with RLS and pernicious anemia, a malabsorption disorder, which has raised some questions being linked to Celiac as well.
- Cheri
February 9, 2013 12:07 p.m.
RLS happens in 5-12% of all adults. I have online support groups for RLS with over 4,000 members from 30 different countries. Parents loking for help, average age of members in my groups is 60, but getting younger. RLS is neurological, and progressive. I am 56 and have RLS severely impact my life after breaking my back. RLS is also genetic in 60 % of the cases. Some secondary RLS can have underlying causes, and iron only helps if your body is not storing it correctly. Other poster said too much iron is not safe, and it can kill you, so if your legs are restless, get a Ferritin level done, plus iron serum. Ferritin levels show how your body stores the iron, not if you are anemic.
- Donna
February 6, 2013 4:09 p.m.
Yes it does occur in adults,my son is 53 and takes a script for rls,as far as lacking iron u have to be careful because it can affect ur heart if given too much, best to see ur DR.
- catherine
February 6, 2013 11:36 a.m.
Keri - yes, absolutely. My 'restless legs' made my life miserable until I became so anemic that I needed a transfusion, and follow up iron infusions. After that, no more restless leg. It also made a huge difference in my mental abilities, which had declined (and I blamed menopause.)
- Lee
February 5, 2013 4:43 p.m.
Does this association between iron deficiency and restless leg syndrome occur in adults?
- keri
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