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The iron status at birth of neonates with risk factors for developing iron deficiency: a pilot study
B C MacQueen1, R D Christensen1,2,3, D M Ward4
1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Insights
Newborns at risk, including small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants, showed early signs of iron deficiency at birth. Further research is needed to understand the long-term impacts on their development.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Iron Metabolism
Background:
- Infants born small-for-gestational-age (SGA), infants of diabetic mothers (IDM), and very-low-birth weight (VLBW) neonates face higher risks for iron deficiency.
- Iron deficiency in infancy may be linked to neurocognitive delays, highlighting the importance of early iron status assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the iron status at birth in high-risk neonates.
- To compare iron parameters in umbilical cord blood of SGA, IDM, VLBW infants, and healthy comparison neonates.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study was conducted on 50 neonates.
- Iron parameters were measured in umbilical cord blood samples.
- Infants were categorized into SGA, IDM, VLBW, and comparison groups.
Main Results:
- Biochemical evidence of iron deficiency was detected at birth in 17% (6 out of 50) of the infants studied.
- Iron deficiency indicators were observed in one SGA, one IDM, three VLBW, and one comparison infant.
- No infants in the study exhibited iron deficiency anemia at birth.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of at-risk newborns exhibit biochemical iron deficiency at birth.
- Longitudinal studies are necessary to ascertain if these infants are prone to iron-limited erythropoiesis, iron deficiency anemia, or neurocognitive impairments due to iron deficiency.
Objective:
Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonates, infants of diabetic mothers (IDM) and very-low-birth weight premature neonates (VLBW) are reported to have increased risk for developing iron deficiency and possibly associated neurocognitive delays.
Study Design:
We conducted a pilot study to assess iron status at birth in at-risk neonates by measuring iron parameters in umbilical cord blood from SGA, IDM, VLBW and comparison neonates.
Results:
Six of the 50 infants studied had biochemical evidence of iron deficiency at birth. Laboratory findings consistent with iron deficiency were found in one SGA, one IDM, three VLBW, and one comparison infant. None of the infants had evidence of iron deficiency anemia.
Conclusions:
Evidence of biochemical iron deficiency at birth was found in 17% of screened neonates. Studies are needed to determine whether these infants are at risk for developing iron-limited erythropoiesis, iron deficiency anemia or iron-deficient neurocognitive delay.
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