Neonatal Growth, Neurotrophine, Zinc, and Ferritin Concentration in Normal and Iron Deficience Pregnancy: An Observational Analitic Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Anemia in pregnancy was one of the national problems. Insufficient iron deposits before pregnancy and inadequate iron intake during pregnancy could lead to iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy, followed by iron deficiency in neonates.
 AIM: This study aimed to assess the molecular relationship of maternal iron deficiency with the function of the neonatal central nervous system to know the cognitive aspects of learning ability of children.
 METHODS: This study was an observational analytic study with cross-sectional design underwent in RSUP Dr M. Djamil Padang, RSI Ibnu Sina Padang, and RSU BMC Padang. The sample size was 80 pregnant women at term. After a maternal and neonatal physical examination, maternal and umbilical blood samples were obtained to assess maternal ferritin levels and neonates ferritin, neurotrophin and zinc levels using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Data were analysed using the IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows. The independent sample t-test was performed to assess the relationship for normally distributed data and Mann-Whitney test for abnormal data distribution with significance level p < 0.05.
 RESULTS: There were differences in mean neonatal ferritin (p < 0.001), neonatal neurotrophin (p < 0.001), and neonatal zinc (p < 0.001) to normal maternal ferritin levels (≥ 15 μg/ml) and low maternal ferritin levels (< 15 μg/ml). The difference in mean neonatal head circumference (0.92; CI95% -0.79-0.98) was associated with neonatal ferritin levels.
 CONCLUSIONS: The mean neonatal ferritin, neurotrophin, and zinc levels were found lower in iron deficiency maternal. Maternal iron deficiency correlates with neonate growth, iron deficiency, and neurotrophin expression that affected neonate cognition.

Adherence to iron and folic acid supplementation and prevalence of anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia

“…Iron and folic acid supplementation (IFAS) with optimal adherence is the main cost-effective strategy for prevention and control of iron and folate deficiency anemia during pregnancy [15]. IFAS during pregnancy was shown to reduce the risk of all types of maternal anemia by 70% and iron deficiency anemia by 57% [16].…”

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

“…Iron-enriched diet containing 3% carbonyl iron for 16 weeks led to statistically decreased mean adipocyte size by approximately 36% in visceral adipose tissue of mice [62]. Previously, the partial influence of both fetal and maternal ferritin levels on the birth weight of newborns was reported in a mouse model [63]. Furthermore, we considered the possible interaction between the identified decline in FTH levels and lipid metabolism in the HFe offspring.…”

Minerals in Pregnancy and Their Impact on Child Growth and Development

“…Several studies report that reductions in fetal growth and weight are typical in newborns of iron-deficient mothers during pregnancy, and such a reduction is persistent over the course of childhood [31,34]. One study found that expectant mothers with low ferritin content (<15 µg/L) delivered iron-deficient babies [71].…”

“…Such neuronal problems occur mainly in the initial phase of life since the brain needs a high iron content to develop, similar to the liver. Iron plays an essential role in synaptogenesis, synthesis of neurotransmitters (e.g., dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenalin), synthesis of neurotrophin, and in myelinization, as cited above [33,71]. Thus, the lower its available content, the more severe the damage, with the worst being irreversible [16].…”

“…Such damages can be attributed to altered synthesis of neurotrophin, a growth factor dependent on iron, which is responsible for protecting the neurons involved in learning processes and behavioral development [71]. The effects on memory were observed in a study on adult animals descendent from mothers with iron deficiency during pregnancy.…”