title: Iron status in women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects approximately 7% of all pregnancies. Pregnancy, mostly because of the mitochondria-rich placenta, is a condition that favors oxidative stress. A transitional metal, especially iron, which is particularly abundant in the placenta, is important in the production of free radicals. Also, studies have shown that free radicals have a role in GDM. As there are little data about iron status in GDM, this study was performed to compare iron status in GDM and control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-control study, 34 women with diagnosed GDM were compared with 34 non-GDM women in the control group at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy in terms of iron status, including ferritin, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, concentration of serum ferritin, iron, transferrin saturation and hemoglobin, MCV, and MCH was significantly higher in the GDM group and TIBC was significantly lower in this group (P<.05). No significant association was observed with the other variables including familial history of diabetes and GDM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate an association between increased iron status and GDM. The role of iron excess from iron supplementation in the pathogenesis of GDM needs to be examined.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Science and Health Services, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afkhami-Ardekani
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rashidi
mesh_terms: D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D007501:Iron