The impacts of maternal iron deficiency and being overweight during pregnancy on neurodevelopment of the offspring

Br J Nutr. 2017 Oct;118(7):533-540. doi: 10.1017/S0007114517002410. Epub 2017 Oct 2.

Abstract

Both maternal Fe deficiency (ID) and being overweight or obese (Ow/Ob, BMI≥25 kg/m2) may negatively affect offspring brain development. However, the two risk factors correlate and their independent effects on infant neurodevelopment are unclear. PREOBE is a prospective observational study that included 331 pregnant Spanish women, of whom 166 had pre-gestational Ow/Ob. Fe status was analysed at 34 weeks and at delivery, and babies were assessed using Bayley III scales of neurodevelopment at 18 months. In confounder-adjusted analyses, maternal ID at 34 weeks was associated with lower composite motor scores at 18 months (mean 113·3 (sd 9·9) v. 117·1 (sd 9·2), P=0·039). Further, the offspring of mothers with ID at delivery had lower cognitive scores (114·0 (sd 9·7) v. 121·5 (sd 10·9), P=0·039) and lower receptive, expressive and composite (99·5 (sd 8·6) v. 107·6 (sd 8·3), P=0·004) language scores. The negative associations between maternal ID at delivery and Bayley scores remained even when adjusting for maternal Ow/Ob and gestational diabetes. Similarly, maternal Ow/Ob correlated with lower gross motor scores in the offspring (12·3 (sd 2·0) v. 13·0 (sd 2·1), P=0·037), a correlation that remained when adjusting for maternal ID. In conclusion, maternal ID and pre-gestational Ow/Ob are both negatively associated with Bayley scores at 18 months, but independently and on different subscales. These results should be taken into account when considering Fe supplementation for pregnant women.

Keywords: GD gestational diabetes; ID Fe deficiency; IDA Fe deficiency anaemia; Ow/Ob overweight or obese; Bayley test; Infant neurodevelopment; Iron; Obesity; Overweight.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / blood*
  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / complications
  • Child Development
  • Diabetes, Gestational / blood
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Iron / blood
  • Iron Deficiencies
  • Maternal-Fetal Exchange*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders / blood*
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders / etiology
  • Obesity / blood*
  • Obesity / complications
  • Overweight / blood*
  • Overweight / complications
  • Pregnancy
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Spain
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Iron