Abstract

Anemia diagnosed early in pregnancy is associated with increased risks of low birth weight and preterm delivery. The purposes of this study were to assess the maternal iron status during pregnancy and to evaluate the relationships between the iron indices of maternal-umbilical cord serum iron and ferritin levels and pregnancy outcomes. Dietary intakes of the pregnant women were estimated by 24 hour-recall (3 times). Serum iron and ferritin levels in maternal blood and umbilical cord were measured at 1st-, 2nd-, 3rd- trimester and delivery, respectively. The mean of maternal serum iron levels of the trimester and delivery were 124.27microgram/dl, 97.03microgram/dl, 94.32microgram/dl, and 145.53microgram/dl. Those maternal levels were significantly lower than that of umbilical cord blood (222.59microgram/dl). Serum ferritin levels of maternal trimester and delivery were 22.68microgram/l, 11.09microgram/l, 14.18microgram/l and 24.54microgram/l, which were significantly lower than those of umbilical cord blood (184.35microgram/l)(p<0.0001). This prevalence of anemia of total subjects was 30.3% by WHO criteria (Hb<11.0 g/dl, Hct<33%). Iron levels of 2nd-trimester was significantly higher in the normal group than in the anemia group. And ferritin levels of 3rd-trimester and delivery was significantly higher in the normal group than in the anemia group. Therefore, we suggest for successful pregnancy outcome and delivery differential iron supplementation programs will be carried out with individual pregnant women on the basis of pre-pregnancy nutrition.

• Keywords: pregnant women; serum iron; serum ferritin; umbilical cord; pregnancy outcome