Persistence of low serum iron and high total iron binding capacity in pregnant women

A cross sectional descriptive type of study was done in 98 women of reproductive age. Among them 25 were in control group of non pregnant women and 73 were pregnant women of 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy with and without iron supplementation. The period of study was July 2004 to June 2005. The main objective of our study was to compare serum iron and total iron binding capacity in pregnant and non pregnant women. In present study serum iron was significantly increased in 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy that was supplemented with iron when compared with the same category of women who were not supplemented with iron. On the other hand serum total iron binding capacity (TIBC) was significantly increased in 3rd trimester of pregnancy that was not supplemented with iron when compared with the same category of women who were supplemented with iron. It is evident that the significantly low serum iron and high TIBC in pregnant women is due in part to dietary iron deficiency. Therefore, iron therapy in pregnancy is helpful to maintain the serum iron and TIBC nearer to that of non pregnant normal women.