Early signs of maternal iron deficiency do not influence the iron status of the newborn, but are associated with higher infant birthweight.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the associations between maternal iron status, pregnancy outcome and newborn iron status using sensitive and specific red blood cell indices reflecting iron-deficient erythropoiesis.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study in Kuopio University Hospital, Finland.


METHODS
One hundred and ninety-two pregnant women and their full-term newborns (cord blood).


METHODS
Quartile analysis and Spearman correlations were used to investigate the associations of the iron status of pregnant women with that of their newborns, and with pregnancy outcome.


METHODS
Maternal and cord blood analysis including indices reflecting the hemoglobin (Hb) content of red blood cells as well as serum iron, transferrin saturation, transferrin receptor and ferritin. Gestational age, birthweight and placental weight.


RESULTS
The highest quartile of the maternal percentage of hypochromic red blood cells (%HYPOm) indicating the lowest iron status was associated with a high birthweight and a long duration of pregnancy. The newborns in this group did not show any signs of iron deficiency even though the maternal %HYPOm was elevated.


CONCLUSIONS
In a well-nourished maternal population, lower maternal iron status did not affect the iron accumulation on the fetal side. However, longer duration of pregnancy and growth of the fetus appeared to be associated with a lower amount of iron for Hb synthesis in maternal red blood cells, as reflected by the increased maternal %HYPOm, birthweight and length of gestation.
Ervasti
Mari
M
Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University of Kuopio, and Eastern Finland Laboratory Centre (ISLAB), Kuopio, Finland. mari.ervasti@uku.fi
Sankilampi
Ulla
U
Heinonen
Seppo
S
Punnonen
Kari
K
D000328:Adult; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001724:Birth Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011273:Pregnancy, Prolonged / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
D005293:Ferritins