title: Do indicators of maternal iron status reflect placental iron status at delivery?
abstract: Indicators of maternal iron (Fe) status were studied in relation to placental Fe (Pl-Fe) status. Placental (Pl) and maternal (M) venous blood samples were obtained from primiparous women (n = 38), with normal delivery at Paroissien Hospital, Argentina. Maternal hemoglobin (M Hb), soluble transferrin receptor (M sTfR) (ELISA) and serum ferritin (M S-Ft) were studied in relation to Pl-Fe, ferritin (Pl-Ft) and transferrin receptor (Pl-TfR). Pl-TfR was measured by dot blot assay, Pl-Ft and M S-Ft by immunoassay (IRMA) and Pl-Fe by atomic absorption spectrometry. Fe status indicators were, respectively, (mean +/- SD): M Hb 113 +/- 16 g/L; M S-Ft 36 +/- 42 microg/L; M sTfR 6.3 +/- 3.1 mg/L; Pl-Fe 170 +/- 56 microg/g placenta; Pl-Ft 33 +/- 18 microg/g placenta; Pl-TfR 18 +/- 18 (range 0-58) microg/g placenta. Pl-Fe, Pl-Ft and Pl-TfR did not correlate to M Hb, M S-Ft and M sTfR. Women with Pl- Fe, Pl-Ft and Pl-TfR above or below the corresponding median values did not show any statistical significant difference in M Hb, M sTfR or M S-Ft values. Pl-Ft concentration was lower in women with Hb < 110 g/L than in women with normal values: 26 +/- 13 vs. 38 +/- 20 microg/g, respectively (p = 0.021). When Pl-TfR, Pl-Ft and Pl-Fe were compared in women with M S-Ft above or below the cut-off point of 10 or 20 microg/L, no significant difference was found for Pl-TfR neither for Pl-Ft nor Pl-Fe. These results suggest that maternal indicators of Fe status, particularly M sTfR and M S-Ft, do not reflect Fe status of the placenta at delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Junín 956-2do (1113) Buenos Aires, Argentina. slangini@ffyb.uba.ar
authors.forename: Silvia Haydee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Langini
authors.forename: María Luz
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: de Portela
authors.forename: Araceli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lázzari
authors.forename: Carlos Rafael
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Ortega Soler
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lönnerdal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D009035:Mothers; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood; D013223:Statistics as Topic
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron