Iron status in pregnant women in the Republic of Seychelles

Public Health Nutr. 2010 Mar;13(3):331-7. doi: 10.1017/S1368980009991054. Epub 2009 Aug 26.

Abstract

Objective: To establish the Fe status of pregnant women and their neonates in the Republic of Seychelles.

Design: A prospective study.

Setting: Republic of Seychelles.

Subjects: Pregnant women were recruited and blood samples taken at enrolment and post-delivery along with cord blood samples. Ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) were measured in maternal (n 220) and cord blood (n 123) samples.

Results: Maternal Fe deficiency (ferritin < 15 ng/ml, sTfR > 28 nmol/l) was present in 6 % of subjects at enrolment and in 20 % at delivery. There was no significant decrease in maternal ferritin. A significant increase in sTfR was observed between enrolment and delivery (P < 0.001). Maternal BMI and use of Fe supplements at 28 weeks' gestation were associated with improved maternal Fe status at delivery, whereas parity had a negative effect on sTfR and ferritin at delivery.

Conclusions: Fe status of pregnant Seychellois women was, on average, within normal ranges. The incidence of Fe deficiency throughout pregnancy in this population was similar to that in a Westernised population. Increased awareness of the importance of adequate Fe intake during pregnancy, particularly in multiparous women, is warranted.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / blood
  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Ferritins / blood
  • Fetal Blood / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Iron / blood*
  • Iron Deficiencies*
  • Male
  • Nutritional Status*
  • Parity
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / blood
  • Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Prevalence
  • Prospective Studies
  • Puerperal Disorders / blood
  • Puerperal Disorders / epidemiology
  • Receptors, Transferrin / analysis
  • Seychelles / epidemiology

Substances

  • Receptors, Transferrin
  • Ferritins
  • Iron