MATERNAL IRON STATUS: RELATION TO FETAL GROWTH LENGTH OF GESTATION AND THE NEONATE’S IRON ENDOWMENT

摘要

Anemia prevalence is highest in preschool children, reproductive age women and women who are pregnant. While etiology is multifactorial, a deficiency in iron is the most commonly recognized nutritional cause. Observational studies imply that supplementation with iron or iron-folic acid should be started early in pregnancy, if not before, in order to prevent low birth weight and preterm delivery. Despite this clinical trials, even those from early pregnany, are equivocal. Recent follow up studies of children born to iron-folic acid supplemented women suggest that mortality is decreased and that the infant’s iron endowment reflects the mother’s iron status during pregnancy.