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Neonatal iron status is impaired by maternal obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy

A K Phillips1, S C Roy2, R Lundberg2

  • 11] School of Medicine and Public Health, and Meriter Hospital, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA [2] Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.

Journal of Perinatology : Official Journal of the California Perinatal Association
|March 22, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Maternal obesity during pregnancy is linked to poorer iron status in newborns. This study found that higher maternal body mass index (BMI) independently predicts lower infant iron levels.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Maternal iron requirements increase significantly during pregnancy.
  • Obesity can negatively impact nutrient absorption, including iron.
  • Fetal iron status is crucial for infant health and development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal obesity and fetal iron status.
  • To determine if maternal obesity is an independent risk factor for neonatal iron deficiency.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 316 newborns with risk factors for infantile iron deficiency anemia (IDA).
  • Assessed neonatal iron status using cord blood hemoglobin (Hb), zinc protoporphyrin/heme (ZnPP/H), reticulocyte-ZnPP/H, and serum ferritin.
  • Analyzed the impact of maternal body mass index (BMI) and diabetes on infant iron parameters.

Main Results:

  • Obese mothers (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) delivered larger infants with higher reticulocyte-ZnPP/H and lower serum ferritin.
  • Increasing maternal BMI correlated with lower estimated body iron and a higher proportion of iron bound to hemoglobin.
  • Maternal diabetes negatively affected infant iron status, but obesity remained an independent predictor.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal obesity is an independent risk factor for iron deficiency in newborns.
  • Excessive maternal weight gain during pregnancy also contributes to neonatal iron deficiency.
  • These findings highlight the importance of managing maternal weight for optimal fetal iron accretion.
Abstract

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