Understanding hepcidin for iron management in pregnancy

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) poses a significant health challenge during pregnancy, affecting up to 30% of pregnant women in the UK. It has been linked to poor health outcomes for the mother, foetus, and the infant. Despite its prevalence and impact, current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are limited. Ensuring an adequate iron status in pregnancy requires prompt investigation and treatment whilst avoiding excessive iron supplementation and its associated side effects. Hepcidin, a key regulator of iron trafficking in the body, has emerged as a promising candidate for tailoring iron supplementation to individual needs and responsiveness. However, current research on hepcidin-based approaches yields mixed findings, necessitating a comprehensive review to elucidate its potential utility in guiding iron therapy for pregnant women with IDA. This literature review seeks to synthesise existing evidence to explore the role of hepcidin in personalised iron supplementation for pregnant women with IDA and to identify avenues for future research to pave the way for improved management of IDA in pregnancy.