title: Iron status indicators in women with prior neural tube defect-affected pregnancies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in pregnant women and has been linked to negative impacts on the fetus. We describe the association of various iron-deficiency indices with risk of neural tube defect (NTD) among a high-risk Mexican-American population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 158 case-women (NTD-affected pregnancies) and 189 control-women (normal births) who were residents of the 14 Texas-Mexico border counties and delivered or terminated pregnancies during 1995-2000. In-person interviews and laboratory assays provided data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Case-women had higher odds of having minimal or no iron stores (serum ferritin <30 microg/L) compared to control-women (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.0-3.3). The risk effect was not explained by low folate or B12 or other risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low serum ferritin may reflect the additive effect of multiple long-term factors, many of them related to poverty such as poor quality diet, lack of supplementation, and frequent pregnancies. Interpartum care is indicated in this population.
authors.affiliation: Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, TX 78756, USA. marilyn.felkner@dshs.state.tx.us
authors.forename: Marilyn M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Felkner
authors.forename: Lucina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Suarez
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brender
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scaife
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hendricks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas