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Study of maternal influences on fetal iron status at term using cord blood transferrin receptors
D G Sweet1, G Savage, T R Tubman
1Department of Child Health, The Queen's University of Belfast and Regional Neonatal Unit, Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast, UK. dsweet@dnet.co.uk
Aims:
To determine effects of maternal iron depletion and smoking on iron status of term babies using serum transferrin receptors (STfR) and their ratio to ferritin (TfR-F index) in cord blood.
Methods:
Iron, ferritin, STfR, and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration were measured and TfR-F index calculated in 67 cord /maternal blood pairs. Twenty six mothers were iron depleted (ferritin <10 microg/l) and 28 were smokers.
Results:
Maternal iron depletion was associated with decreased cord ferritin (113 v 171 microg/l) and Hb (156 v 168 g/l) but no change in STfR or TfR-F index. Smoking was associated with increased cord Hb (168 v 157 g/l) and TfR-F index (4.1 v 3.4), and decreased ferritin (123 v 190 microg/l). Cord TfR-F index and Hb were positively correlated (r = 0.48).
Conclusions:
Maternal iron depletion is associated with reduced fetal iron stores but no change in free iron availability. Smoking is associated with increased fetal iron requirements for erythropoiesis.