Active Tobacco Smoke Exposure in Utero and Concentrations of Hepcidin and Selected Iron Parameters in Newborns

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of active tobacco smoke exposure in utero on the concentration of hepcidin and selected iron markers in umbilical cord blood and to evaluate the relationships between these parameters. Newborns of smoking mothers had significantly lower concentrations of serum hepcidin (p < 0.001), iron, and ferritin (p = 0.043; p = 0.042, respectively), but higher levels of erythropoietin (EPO, p < 0.001) and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR, p = 0.011) compared with newborns of non-smoking women. Negative correlations between cotinine and the number of cigarettes smoked per day with hepcidin serum level (r = −0.33, p = 0.033, r = −0.32, p = 0.041, respectively) and EPO (r = 0.47, p = 0.002; r = 0.46, p = 0.003, respectively) were found. Univariate analysis defined for the whole group of children revealed significant associations between the concentration of hepcidin and other iron status parameters. In the models estimated separately for smokers and non-smokers, we found relations between the level of hepcidin and erythropoietin (B = −0.23, p = 0.004; B = −0.46, p = 0.01, respectively). In the multivariate regression model, a negative association between hepcidin and EPO concentrations in the whole group of newborns (β = −0.53; p = 0.001) and in the group of smokers (β = −0.57; p = 0.011) was confirmed. The present study shows significant relations between smoking during pregnancy and hepcidin levels in children born at term. Decreased cord serum concentrations of hepcidin associated with high erythropoietin levels suggest induced fetal erythropoiesis, probably due to the hypoxic effects imposed by maternal smoking.

Iron Therapeutics in Women’s Health: Past, Present, and Future

“…A similar effect on hepcidin synthesis was noted in pregnant women who smoked and the degree of hepcidin suppression was linearly correlated to the number of cigarettes smoked per day [41]. However, serum hemoglobin was higher, and iron parameters were lower in the smoking cohort [41]. These findings suggest that iron transfer to the fetus may actually be compromised, despite hepcidin suppression, as more iron is shuttled to make red blood cells to combat the systemic hypoxia induced by cigarette smoking.…”

“…One such environmental factor is tobacco smoke, which is thought to suppress hepcidin through systemic hypoxia [39,40]. A similar effect on hepcidin synthesis was noted in pregnant women who smoked and the degree of hepcidin suppression was linearly correlated to the number of cigarettes smoked per day [41]. However, serum hemoglobin was higher, and iron parameters were lower in the smoking cohort [41].…”

Associations between serum soluble transferrin receptor and the prevalence of cancers

“…It indicated that there might be a more complex indirect interaction between alcohol consumption, sTfR and tumorigenesis. Currently, researches on the relationship between tobacco and sTfR always focused on newborns ( 28 ). Thus, further research on this topic in adults is meaningful in the future.…”