Iron endowment at birth: maternal iron status and other influences

The iron endowment at birth depends, in large part, on the newborn's birth weight and gestational age. These are determined by many factors, some of which are maternal characteristics, including the following: maternal iron stores at her own birth and during her own early life, maternal growth...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nutrition reviews 2011-11, Vol.69 (s1), p.S3-S16
Main Author: Viteri, Fernando E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Birth weight
Body Weight
Dietary Supplements
Female
Fetus - metabolism
Gestational Age
Humans
Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Infant, Newborn
Iron
iron deficiency
iron endowment
Iron, Dietary - administration & dosage
Maternal Age
maternal iron status
Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Maternal-Fetal Exchange
Neonatal care
Newborn babies
newborns
Nutritional Status
Placenta - metabolism
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome
Prenatal Care
Vitamin deficiency
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Summary:The iron endowment at birth depends, in large part, on the newborn's birth weight and gestational age. These are determined by many factors, some of which are maternal characteristics, including the following: maternal iron stores at her own birth and during her own early life, maternal growth and development, maternal age at conception, intergenesic intervals, maternal body characteristics and iron status at conception and during early pregnancy, gestational body weight gain, and iron status throughout gestation, particularly at conception and early pregnancy, and gestational body weight gain. Although less studied, paternal influences on the initiation and progression of pregnancy and on maternal environmental exposures are also important. Even though tools for the quantitative evaluation of women's iron status are very well developed, the quantitative estimation of body iron in the newborn and young infant remains a challenge. This article describes the crucial role played by the placenta in protecting the embryo and the fetus. In addition, neonatal health, particularly early in pregnancy, is briefly addressed, as are some important aspects of antenatal nutritional interventions that include iron.
ISSN:0029-6643
1753-4887
DOI:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2011.00449.x