Iron Status in Neonates and Its Impact on Their Health Status at Birth

Iron is a vital micronutrient that performs a crucial role in numerous cellular processes. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anemia and the iron levels in newborns and their effect on overall health at birth, to link iron levels in newborns with maternal and newborn traits, and to identify predictors of ferritin levels in newborns.

This cross-sectional study comprised 100 mothers and their neonates, who were delivered either vaginally or via caesarean section, at Assiut University Hospital in Egypt. During the presentation for delivery, information about the mother's medical history was briefly documented, including her age, parity, gravidity, pregnancy-related complications, and blood samples were taken for a complete blood count (CBC). The neonates were assessed based on the following factors: gender, Apgar scores at first and fifth minutes, birth weight, need for admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and neonatal cord blood samples were taken for CBC and serum ferritin analysis.

At birth, three (3%) neonates were anemic, 15 (15%) neonates had low iron stores, and about three-fourths (74%) of mothers had iron deficiency (ID) anemia. Maternal anemia, neonatal low birth weight, and prematurity were predictors of ferritin level among the studied neonates.

ID is not excluded by normal haemoglobin levels. Pregnant women frequently suffer from anaemia. Maternal anemia is significantly associated with low serum ferritin in newborns. Therefore, to prevent unfavourable consequences for both the mother and the fetus, anemia during pregnancy should be appropriately diagnosed and treated. Given the significance of adequate iron reserves at birth for maintaining iron homeostasis during the early stages of infancy, all newborns should be routinely screened for haemoglobin levels and iron status at delivery. It is also highly recommended that serum ferritin be assessed in preterm neonates to determine their iron status.