title: Maternal iron intake during pregnancy and birth outcomes: a cross-sectional study in Northwest China.
abstract: Previous studies have yielded conflicting results on the associations of maternal Fe intake with birth outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the associations between maternal Fe intake (total Fe from diet and supplements, dietary total Fe, haeme Fe, non-haeme Fe and Fe supplements use) and adverse birth outcomes in Shaanxi Province of Northwest China. In all, 7375 women were recruited using a stratified multistage random sampling method at 0-12 months (median 3; 10th-90th percentile 0-7) after delivery. Diets were collected by a validated FFQ and maternal characteristics were obtained via a standard questionnaire. The highest tertile of haeme Fe intake compared with the lowest tertile was negatively associated with low birth weight (LBW) (OR 0·68; 95 % CI 0·49, 0·94), small for gestational age (SGA) (OR 0·76; 95 % CI 0·62, 0·94) and birth defects (OR 0·55; 95 % CI 0·32, 0·89). Maternal haeme Fe intake was associated with a lower risk of intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) (medium tertile v. lowest tertile: OR 0·78; 95 % CI 0·61, 0·95; highest tertile v. lowest tertile: OR 0·76; 95 % CI 0·59, 0·93; P trend=0·045). The OR of LBW associated with Fe supplements use were as follows: during pregnancy: 0·72 (95 % CI 0·50, 0·95); in the second trimester: 0·67 (95 % CI 0·42, 0·98); in the third trimester: 0·47 (95 % CI 0·24, 0·93). We observed no associations of total Fe, dietary total Fe or non-haeme Fe intake with birth outcomes. The results suggest that maternal haeme Fe intake is associated with a reduced risk of LBW, SGA, IUGR and birth defects, and Fe supplements use during pregnancy reduces LBW risk.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics,School of Public Health,Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center,No. 76 Yanta West Road,Xi'an, Shaanxi,710061,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiaomei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Nutrition,School of Public Health,Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an,Shaanxi,710061,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics,School of Public Health,Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center,No. 76 Yanta West Road,Xi'an, Shaanxi,710061,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Leilei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics,School of Public Health,Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center,No. 76 Yanta West Road,Xi'an, Shaanxi,710061,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yufen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics,School of Public Health,Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center,No. 76 Yanta West Road,Xi'an, Shaanxi,710061,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fangliang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics,School of Public Health,Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center,No. 76 Yanta West Road,Xi'an, Shaanxi,710061,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lingxia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics,School of Public Health,Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center,No. 76 Yanta West Road,Xi'an, Shaanxi,710061,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Quanli
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics,School of Public Health,Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center,No. 76 Yanta West Road,Xi'an, Shaanxi,710061,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics,School of Public Health,Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center,No. 76 Yanta West Road,Xi'an, Shaanxi,710061,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yijun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics,School of Public Health,Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center,No. 76 Yanta West Road,Xi'an, Shaanxi,710061,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics,School of Public Health,Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center,No. 76 Yanta West Road,Xi'an, Shaanxi,710061,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shaonong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics,School of Public Health,Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center,No. 76 Yanta West Road,Xi'an, Shaanxi,710061,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D002681:China; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D047928:Premature Birth; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary; D014131:Trace Elements; D007501:Iron
keywords:  IUGR intra-uterine growth retardation;  LBW low birth weight;  PTB preterm birth;  RNI recommended nutrient intake;  SGA small for gestational age; Birth weight; Dietary iron; Gestational age; Iron supplements; Pregnancy