Adverse effects of iron deficiency anemia on pregnancy outcome and offspring development and intervention of three iron supplements

Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common micronutrient deficiency among pregnant women with severe consequences including impaired immuno-inflammatory system, premature birth, fetal death etc. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of three iron supplements on IDA female rats and their offspring. The IDA female rat model was established with low iron diet and the rats were then mated. After pregnancy, rats were fed diets containing different iron supplements (iron polysaccharide complex, iron protein succinylate and ferrous sulfate) until their offspring were 42 days old. Pregnancy outcomes, haematological, iron metabolism, physical and neurological development indexes were determined. The results showed that all three iron supplements improved the levels of hematological parameters of both mother and offspring rats. After iron supplementation, serum iron, transferrin saturation and serum ferritin levels were increased compared with the IDA group. The level of ferritin light chain in the liver and spleen of both mother and offspring rats in iron supplemented groups was significantly higher than that of the IDA group. The average number of born alive per litter in the iron treatment groups was significantly higher than that in the IDA group. Iron supplements also improved the physical growth and neurobehavioral development of offspring rats. It was also found that iron supplementation improved the expression of ferritin light chain and the synaptic growth associated proteins in the brain and hippocampus. No significant difference was found in the efficacy of three iron supplements. These results suggest that pregnant and postpartum IDA affects pregnancy outcomes, offspring physical development and causes neural impairment. Sufficient iron supplementation can significantly improve IDA and its adverse effects on both mother and offspring.

Preconception Hemoglobin Concentration and Risk of Low Birth Weight and Small-for-Gestational-Age: A Large Prospective Cohort Study in China

“…Approximately 20 million infants are born with LBW worldwide each year [9]. The notion that maternal anemia during pregnancy relates to LBW has received strong evidential support across epidemiological, medical, and animal studies [10][11][12][13]. A recent systemic meta-analysis found that anemia (hemoglobin (Hb) concentration ≤ 110 g/L) overall or at any time during pregnancy increased the risk of LBW with an adjusted odds ratio: 1.23 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.43) [14].…”

Iron parameters in pregnant women with beta‐thalassaemia minor combined with iron deficiency anaemia compared to pregnant women with iron deficiency anaemia alone demonstrate the safety of iron supplementation in beta‐thalassaemia minor during pregnancy

“…Pregnancy with IDA can cause serious short-term and long-term complications for mothers, fetuses, and newborns. [21][22][23][24] After iron supplementation, the HGB, MCV, and all iron metabolism parameters were significantly improved in the b + IDA and IDA groups, suggesting that iron supplementation was effective in both groups. Moretti et al 25 demonstrated that multiple doses a day are not optimal for iron supplementation.…”

High Iron Exposure from the Fetal Stage to Adulthood in Mice Alters Lipid Metabolism

“…FTH1 is known to be elevated in response to high iron levels as a cellular iron storage protein and major regulator of the cellular labile iron pool [60]. Iron supplementation in both iron-deficient anemia mice and their offspring significantly upregulated FTL levels with improved physical growth compared to untreated mice [61]. We have seen low FTH1 and increased iron accumulation, with adipocyte size reduced by 45.5%, adipose tissue TG decreased by 60%, and serum TG decreased by 56.6%; however, the interaction between them is yet to be studied.…”