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Effects of iron deficiency on neonatal behavior at different stages of pregnancy
Carmen Hernández-Martínez1, Josefa Canals, Nuria Aranda
1Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Research Centre for Behavioral Assessment (CRAMC), Department of Psychology, Ctra. Valls S/N, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
Insights
Prenatal iron deficiency impacts newborn behavior. Maternal iron status in early pregnancy affects autonomous nervous system responses, while late pregnancy deficiency impacts motor skills and self-regulation in infants.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Neonatal Development
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Prenatal and postnatal iron deficiency are established risk factors for developmental issues in children.
- Understanding the specific timing of iron deficiency during pregnancy is crucial for assessing its impact on neonatal outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal iron status during pregnancy and newborn behavior.
- To determine if the timing of iron deficiency (first, second, or third trimester) influences specific aspects of neonatal behavior.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 216 healthy, well-nourished pregnant women and their newborns in Spain were studied.
- Maternal iron status was assessed, and neonatal behavior was evaluated using the Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale (NBAS).
Main Results:
- Iron deficiency in the first and second trimesters weakly predicted the NBAS autonomous nervous system cluster score.
- Iron deficiency in the third trimester significantly predicted NBAS motor and state organization clusters, and robustness/endurance.
Conclusions:
- Maternal iron deficiency during pregnancy is linked to neonatal autonomous nervous system responses, motor performance, and self-regulation.
- The timing of iron deficiency influences the specific behavioral domains affected in newborns.
Abstract:
Animal and human studies have shown that prenatal and postnatal iron deficiency is a risk factor for behavioral, emotional and cognitive development. The aim of this study was to determine the associations between iron status of pregnant women and the behavior of their newborn, taking into account the timing in which the deficit occurs. This study was conducted in Spain (developed country) where: the general population is well-nourished; during pregnancy routine obstetrical checks are carried out; and pregnant women are systematically iron supplemented. A total of 216 healthy and well-nourished pregnant women and their term, normal weight newborn participated in this study. The neonatal behavior was assessed by the Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale (NBAS). The results showed that in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, iron deficiency was a weak and significant predictor of the NBAS autonomous nervous system cluster score, and in the third trimester, this condition predicted the NBAS motor and state organization clusters score and the NBAS robustness and endurance supplementary item. In conclusion, iron deficiency during pregnancy is related to the neonate's general autonomous response, motor performance and self regulation capabilities.
