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Maternal and perinatal predictors of newborn iron status

Susan B Morton, Rajneeta Saraf, Dinusha K Bandara

  • 1Growing Up in New Zealand, Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua, University of Auckland, 261 Morrin Road, Glen Innes, PO Box 18288, Auckland 1743, New Zealand. cc.grant@auckland.ac.nz.

The New Zealand Medical Journal
|September 18, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Seven percent of newborns in New Zealand show iron deficiency at birth. Maternal milk consumption during pregnancy was linked to lower infant serum ferritin levels.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Health
  • Nutritional Biochemistry

Background:

  • Iron deficiency at birth can impact infant development and long-term health outcomes.
  • Understanding iron status in newborns is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of iron deficiency in a New Zealand infant population at birth.
  • To investigate associations between cord blood iron status markers and maternal/birth characteristics.

Main Methods:

  • Cord blood samples were collected from 131 infants in the Growing Up in New Zealand cohort study.
  • Serum ferritin (SF) and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations were measured.
  • Statistical analyses explored relationships between SF/Hb and maternal/birth factors.

Main Results:

  • Seven percent of newborns exhibited low cord serum ferritin (SF <35 mcg/L), indicating iron deficiency.
  • Two newborns were anaemic (Hb <130 g/L); none had iron deficiency anaemia.
  • Higher maternal milk intake (≥3 servings/day) was associated with lower median SF levels in newborns (131 vs. 151 mcg/L, P=0.04).

Conclusions:

  • Iron deficiency is a notable concern in 7% of New Zealand newborns.
  • Maternal milk consumption during pregnancy may be inversely associated with newborn iron stores.
Abstract

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