title: Maternal and perinatal predictors of newborn iron status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe iron status at birth in a population sample of children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cord blood samples were obtained at birth from 131 infants enrolled in the cohort study Growing Up in New Zealand. Cord blood serum ferritin (SF) and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations were measured and associations of SF and Hb with maternal and birth characteristics were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Demographics were comparable to the larger cohort, except for having a higher pre-pregnancy body mass index (26.9 vs. 25.4 kg/m2, P=0.005), lower frequency of cigarette smoking during pregnancy (2% vs. 11%, P=0.0004), and smaller proportion with birth-weight <2500 g (0% vs. 5%, P=0.03). Median (interquartile range) SF was 135 (88-180) mcg/L and mean (plus or minus SD) Hb was 160 plus or minus 17 g/L. Eight newborns (7%) had cord SF levels indicative of iron deficiency (SF <35 mcg/L), two newborns were anaemic (Hb <130 g/L) and none had iron deficiency anaemia. Median SF was lower in newborns whose mothers consumed greater than or equal to 3 servings of milk/day during the pregnancy (131 vs. 151 mcg/L, P=0.04). No other associations with SF or Hb were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Iron deficiency is present in 7% of newborns in New Zealand. Newborns whose mothers consumed more milk during pregnancy had a lower median SF concentration.
authors.forename: Susan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: Rajneeta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saraf
authors.forename: Dinusha K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Bandara
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bartholomew
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gilchrist
authors.forename: Polly E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Atatoa Carr
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baylis
authors.forename: Clare R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.forename: Hilary A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Blacklock
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tebbutt
authors.affiliation: Growing Up in New Zealand, Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua, University of Auckland, 261 Morrin Road, Glen Innes, PO Box 18288, Auckland 1743, New Zealand. cc.grant@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Cameron C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Grant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006304:Health Status; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000009:adverse effects; D009520:New Zealand; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins