Prof. Mohamed Mahmoud Rashad Fouad, MD :: Publications:

Abstract Background: Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional disorder world wide, especially in developing countries. Pregnant women and infants are especially at high risk because of increased iron requirements. Iron deficiency in pregnant women has been shown to cause intrauterine growth retardation, increases the risk of premature delivery and low birth weight. Aim: This work studied the effect of iron supplementation to pregnant women with near normal hemoglobin (Hb) during the third trimester on birth outcomes, the iron status and growth of their infants during the first six weeks of life. Methods: This study included 60 pregnant women with normal hemoglobin or with mild anemia (Hb=10-11 gm/dl), their full term babies were classified into (group I) of iron supplemented mothers (15 babies) and (group II) of non iron supplemented mothers (15 babies). Blood samples were collected from mothers at 3rd trimester, birth and 6th week post partum to measure Hb levels. At birth, the infants were assessed for growth assessment of weight, length and head circumference and thence biweekly up to six weeks. Cord blood was assessed for blood indices and thence biweekly blood samples were assessed for Hb, hematocrite (HT), mean corpuscular Hb (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular Hb concentration (MCHC). Serum ferritin was measured for all infants at six weeks of age. Results: This study revealed that gestational age (GA), body weight and supine length and gestational age were statistically significantly higher in babies whose mothers were supplemented during pregnancy. Blood indices were significantly higher at 4 weeks of age and serum ferritin at six weeks in infants of (group I) vs. (group II). Conclusion: Iron supplementation to pregnant women during the third trimester, even with no anemia, is recommended, despite its inconveniences, as it is shown to have beneficial effects on improving child birth outcome as regards duration of gestation, growth of infants and prevention of rapid depletion of their iron stores.