Plasma Iron Indices in Pregnant Women Referred to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Abstract

Background and Aims: Iron Deficiency (ID) is a common obstetric problem and nutritional disorder that occurs mostly in developing countries. Hence, nutritional studies are required every few years to determine the necessary healthcare interventions for pregnant women. This cross-sectional study evaluated the plasma iron, ferritin, transferrin, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC) levels of pregnant women referred to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria.
 Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 58 non-pregnant women, 22 pregnant women in the first trimester, 52 in second, and 44 in the third trimester. The plasma ferritin concentration of these samples was measured by chemiluminescence assay, while the plasma transferrin, TIBC, and iron concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Plasma ferritin levels <15μg/L were considered ID.
 Results: The overall prevalence of ID in pregnant women was 33.1%. However, the prevalence of ID was 29.3%, 22.7%, 34.6%, and 36.4% among non-pregnant women, women in the first trimester, second and third trimester, respectively. The mean±SEM iron levels were significantly higher among pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women (p=0.004). There was no significant difference in the mean±SEM of plasma ferritin, transferrin and TIBC concentrations between pregnant and non-pregnant women (p>0.05). Nevertheless, the mean±SEM plasma iron, ferritin, and UIBC significantly differed across the gestational ages of pregnant women (p<0.05).
 Conclusions: This study revealed a high prevalence of ID during pregnancy, which increases with the trimester of affected women. Healthcare interventional measures that can address ID are recommended.

Hematological indexes and iron status in pregnant mares

“…Although the UIBC decreased in Spanish Purebred mares throughout gestation, the results regarding this parameter are contradictory in the female. While some report a decrease in UIBC, which could be a mechanism to ensure adequate fetal iron delivery based on the decrease in iron concentration with gestation (Amah-Tariah et al, 2011;Dangana et al, 2020), others report an increase as the age of gestation progressed (Razza et al, 2011). In addition, the negative correlation between UIBC and Fe in this study indicates that there is no iron depletion.…”