Iron status indicators in women with prior neural tube defect-affected pregnancies

Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in pregnant women and has been linked to negative impacts on the fetus. We describe the association of various iron-deficiency indices with risk of neural tube defect (NTD) among a high-risk Mexican-American population.

The study included 158 case-women (NTD-affected pregnancies) and 189 control-women (normal births) who were residents of the 14 Texas-Mexico border counties and delivered or terminated pregnancies during 1995-2000. In-person interviews and laboratory assays provided data.

Case-women had higher odds of having minimal or no iron stores (serum ferritin <30 microg/L) compared to control-women (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.0-3.3). The risk effect was not explained by low folate or B12 or other risk factors.

Low serum ferritin may reflect the additive effect of multiple long-term factors, many of them related to poverty such as poor quality diet, lack of supplementation, and frequent pregnancies. Interpartum care is indicated in this population.