Iron status in pregnant women in the Republic of Seychelles

Abstract

Objective

To establish the Fe status of pregnant women and their neonates in the Republic of Seychelles.

Design

A prospective study.

Setting

Republic of Seychelles.

Subjects

Pregnant women were recruited and blood samples taken at enrolment and post-delivery along with cord blood samples. Ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) were measured in maternal (n 220) and cord blood (n 123) samples.

Results

Maternal Fe deficiency (ferritin<15 ng/ml, sTfR>28 nmol/l) was present in 6% of subjects at enrolment and in 20% at delivery. There was no significant decrease in maternal ferritin. A significant increase in sTfR was observed between enrolment and delivery (P<0·001). Maternal BMI and use of Fe supplements at 28 weeks’ gestation were associated with improved maternal Fe status at delivery, whereas parity had a negative effect on sTfR and ferritin at delivery.

Conclusions

Fe status of pregnant Seychellois women was, on average, within normal ranges. The incidence of Fe deficiency throughout pregnancy in this population was similar to that in a Westernised population. Increased awareness of the importance of adequate Fe intake during pregnancy, particularly in multiparous women, is warranted.

Fe is an essential nutrient throughout the life cycle. Maternal Fe status is particularly important during pregnancy, where increased demands are placed on Fe stores in order to supply the growing fetus and placenta and to sustain the associated biological changes⁽¹⁾. Fe requirements and Fe absorption rates, owing to the cessation of menses, are decreased in the first trimester of pregnancy but rise progressively during the second and third trimesters.

Fe deficiency remains the most common nutritional deficiency in the world⁽²⁾ and Fe-deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most common nutritional deficiency in pregnancy, particularly in developing countries^(1,3). The generally accepted cut-off level for Hb and serum ferritin, below which Fe stores are considered to be depleted, are <11·0g/dl and <15 ng/ml, respectively⁽⁴⁾. Estimates from the WHO report that nearly half of pregnant women in the world are anaemic with an estimated 52% in non-industrialized as compared with 23% in industrialized countries ⁽⁴⁾; the latter having increased from the 18% prevalence reported in 1992⁽⁵⁾. At least 50% of anaemia cases during pregnancy are attributable to Fe deficiency^(2,6). Anaemia is particularly prominent in Asia, with an estimate of 44% in non-pregnant and 60% in pregnant women⁽⁷⁾, and throughout Africa, where about 40% of non-pregnant and 50% of pregnant women are anaemic; West Africa is the most affected and Southern Africa the least^(4,5).

The prevalence of Fe deficiency is far greater than the prevalence of anaemia⁽⁸⁾ and Fe deficiency often develops in a later stage of pregnancy even among those who enter pregnancy with relatively adequate Fe stores⁽⁹⁾. There is conflicting evidence as to whether maternal Fe deficiency results in fetal Fe deficiency. Some studies suggest that fetal Fe stores are maintained irrespective of maternal Fe status^(10,11), whereas others report that maternal Fe deficiency can cause depletion of fetal Fe stores^(9,11).

Fe deficiency during pregnancy has been associated with multiple adverse outcomes for both mother and infant, including an increased risk of haemorrhage, sepsis, maternal mortality, perinatal mortality and low birth weight^(1,12–18). Fe deficiency in neonates may have negative effects on cognitive development and immune functioning and is associated with increased infant morbidity rates^(19–21).

In the present study, we examined Fe status during pregnancy in the Republic of Seychelles, a small island developing state located in the Indian Ocean, approximately 1000 miles east of Mombasa, Kenya. In 1961 the prevalence of anaemia in women in the Seychelles was reported as being 3·1% (Hb<80 g/l)⁽²²⁾. Given the importance of Fe status during pregnancy, it is important to ascertain current information regarding the Fe status of pregnant women residing in the Seychelles. The prevalence of Fe deficiency during pregnancy in this population was determined, and its relationships with gestational age, parity, birth weight and birth length were investigated.

Subjects and methods

Subjects and design

This study forms part of a larger prospective study – the Seychelles Child Development Nutrition Study (SCDNS). A total of 300 pregnant women were recruited in 2001 from all nine antenatal clinics on the island of Mahé, the main island of the Republic of Seychelles. At their first antenatal visit, women were invited to participate in the study and all volunteers gave written consent in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration. Inclusion criteria were aged over 16 years, resident on Mahé and native-born Seychellois. Subjects were excluded if they were vegetarian, or if they had a serious medical illness such as insulin-dependent diabetes, toxaemia with seizures or a haematological disorder such as thalassaemia or sickle cell anaemia. Participants completed a number of questionnaires requesting information on health and lifestyle factors including use of Fe supplements, parity and smoking. All pregnant women in the Republic of Seychelles are routinely advised to take one tablet containing 200mg FeSO₄ (equivalent to 65 mg Fe(II)) and 0·25 mg folic acid each day during pregnancy. Supplements are provided free of charge. The study was reviewed and approved by the Seychelles Research Ethics Committee.

Blood collection

Pregnant women had non-fasting blood samples collected at enrolment, 28 weeks and at delivery. Cord blood samples were also collected immediately after delivery. Blood samples were collected into plain serum tubes and immediately stored at 4°C until centrifugation within 3 h of collection at 1000g for 15min. Serum was stored at −80°C until analysis. Samples were accompanied and transported on dry ice for batch analysis at the University of Ulster.

Anthropometry and obstetric measurements

All measuring equipment was calibrated prior to initiation of the study, and regularly throughout the study, by the Seychelles Bureau of Standards. Maternal height and weight were measured by trained nurses at enrolment and used to calculate BMI. Neonatal weight and length were measured by trained nurses at birth. Birth weight less than 2500 g was considered low birth weight and gestational age of less than 37 weeks was considered as preterm delivery.

Dietary assessment

At 28 weeks’ gestation, a 4 d (two consecutive weekdays and two weekend days) semi-quantitative diet diary was administered to provide detailed dietary information including that of dietary Fe intake. Foods and beverages reported in the diet diaries were analysed using the dietary analysis package WISP version 2·0 (Tinuviel Software, Warrington, UK). The dietary analysis package was supplemented with food composition and recipe data for foods consumed in the Republic of Seychelles that were not available in WISP^(23,24). The basic nutrient composition of the ten most commonly consumed fish in the Republic of Seychelles was analysed (CCFRA Technology Ltd, Chipping Campden, UK) and nutrient values added to the WISP database. A more detailed description of dietary collection and analysis in SCDNS, including the incidence of under-reporting, is described elsewhere⁽²⁵⁾.

Biochemical analysis

Assessment of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) status alongside the more traditional Fe status marker, ferritin, was carried out in both maternal and cord blood samples. Ferritin was assessed in serum via an automated enzyme immunoassay (United Hospitals H & SS Trust, Antrim, UK). The normal reference range for ferritin within this laboratory is between 15 and 300 ng/ml and maternal ferritin level <15 ng/ml was used as a cut-off for Fe deficiency⁽⁴⁾. Cord blood ferritin cut-off values of 60 and 35 ng/ml were taken as defining decreased and severely depleted fetal Fe stores respectively⁽⁶⁾. The concentration of sTfR was quantified in serum using an ELISA method (R&D Systems Europe Ltd, Oxon, UK). The normal range, according to the manufacturer’s instructions, is between 8·7 and 28·1 nmol/l. Total body Fe (TBI) was calculated from the ratio of sTfR to serum ferritin (R:F ratio) according to the equation devised by Cook et al.⁽²⁶⁾ and was expressed as the Fe surplus in stores (positive value) or the Fe deficit in tissues (negative value). Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured at 28 weeks’ gestation using an automated I-Lab 600 technique (BIOKIT SA, Barcelona, Spain). CRP is a non-specific indicator of inflammation and is considered normal when <6 mg/l.

A combination of haematological and biochemical markers of Fe status is recommended to define Fe deficiency in a population^(27,28). The combination of ferritin<15 ng/ml and sTfR>28·1 nmol/l was taken to represent maternal Fe deficiency in this cohort. Fe deficiency in cord blood was defined as having both ferritin<60 ng/ml and sTfR >28·1 nmol/l.

Statistical analysis

All data were analysed using the SPSS for Windows statistical software package version 13·0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and the significance level (α level) was set as 0·05. Data for all variables were tested for normality using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and the variables not showing normal distribution were log-transformed prior to statistical analysis. Power calculations were carried out for the primary analysis and are outlined elsewhere⁽²⁹⁾. Power calculations were based on a sample size to detect a 5-point difference on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID-II). The calculation indicated that a sample size of 250 subjects would afford an 80% power to detect a 5-point difference between low and high MeHg exposure groups using a two-sided test and a significance level of 0·05⁽²⁹⁾.

The change in ferritin and sTfR between enrolment and delivery was analysed using a mixed model analysis adjusting for maternal age, maternal BMI, gestational age, use of Fe supplements at 28 weeks’ gestation, smoking, parity and dietary Fe intake. Linear regression models were used to detect the factors which determined the change in sTfR and ferritin between enrolment and delivery. Separately, ferritin and sTfR were treated as dependent variables in univariate analyses to estimate the effect of each variable and then in multivariate analysis for confounding control by the consideration of well-characterised factors that affect Fe status during pregnancy and those found to be significant following univariate analysis. These factors were maternal age, maternal BMI, smoking, sex of baby, use of Fe supplements at 28 weeks’ gestation, gestational age, parity, dietary Fe intake and CRP. Beta values with 95% confidence intervals were estimated for the effects of these predicting factors. In multivariate analysis, maternal age and gestational age were considered confounders, although non-significant effects were found in univariate analysis. Similarly, linear models were used to detect the factors which determined cord blood ferritin and sTfR, including maternal ferritin and sTfR. Cord blood ferritin and sTfR levels were treated as dependent variables in univariate analyses to estimate the effect of each variable and then in multivariate analysis for confounding control by the consideration of factors that affect cord blood Fe status and those found to be significant following univariate analysis. These factors were maternal ferritin, maternal sTfR, maternal age, maternal BMI, smoking, sex of baby, use of Fe supplements at 28 weeks’ gestation, gestational age, parity, dietary Fe intake and CRP. Beta values with 95% confidence intervals were estimated for the effects of these predicting factors.

Associations among maternal Fe status measures, newborn Fe status measures and neonatal anthropometric outcomes were analysed using linear regression controlling for maternal age, maternal BMI, use of Fe supplements at 28 weeks’ gestation and parity.

Results

From the original 300 subjects recruited, twenty-four were excluded because of miscarriage, neonatal death, non-pregnant, delivery of twins or delivery overseas⁽²⁹⁾. Enrolment subject data were available for 276 subjects of which complete data sets for maternal Fe status measures were available for 220 subjects. Data on infant Fe status were available for a subset (n 123) of subjects.

Subject characteristics and dietary data

The mean (SD) gestational age at enrolment was 12·7 (4·4) weeks. The mean (SD) gestational age at delivery was 38·8 (1·4) weeks with some 6% (n 14) having preterm births; the latter having a mean (SD) gestational age of 35·4 (0·8) weeks. Maternal and newborn characteristics are outlined in Table 1. There was no significant difference in Fe status measures between those reporting Fe supplement usage at enrolment or at delivery when compared with non-users. The mean (SD) dietary intake of Fe, estimated from the diet diaries, was 9·5 (3·1) mg/d. The main foods contributing to Fe intake were vegetables (24·3 %), bread (14·8 %), meat and meat products (11·6%) and fish (8·7 %). The mean (SD) dietary intake of vitamin C was 144·1 (77·3) mg/d.

Table 1.

Subject characteristics: pregnant women and their neonates in the Republic of Seychelles

	Mean or n	% or SD
Maternal characteristics (n 220)
Age (years), mean and SD	26·9	6·3
BMI at enrolment (kg/m2), mean and SD	26·1	6·4
Smokers at enrolment, n and %	10	4·5
First pregnancy, n and %	80	36·4
Parity 2–4 children, n and %	117	53·2
Parity ≥5 children, n and %	23	10·5
Parity, mode and %	1·0	36·4
Use of Fe supplements at enrolment, n and %	50	22·7
Use of Fe supplements at week 28, n and %	178	80·9
Dietary intake of Fe (mg/d), mean and SD	9·5	3·1
Dietary intake of vitamin C (mg/d), mean and SD	144·1	77·3
Neonatal characteristics (n 123)
Gender of infant (ratio of females to males)	1:1·2
Weight (g), mean and SD	3319·5	450·9
Length (cm), mean and SD	51·5	2·5
Head circumference (cm), mean and SD	33·73	1·4

Biochemical analysis

Mean, SD and 95% CI for maternal and neonatal ferritin, sTfR and TBI are presented in Table 2. There was no significant difference in ferritin concentrations between enrolment and delivery. However, 19% of individuals were below the cut-off value of 15 ng/ml for ferritin at enrolment and this increased to 24% at delivery. Some 29% and 11% of cord ferritin values fell below the cut-off value of 60 ng/ml (depleted) and 35 ng/ml (severely depleted), respectively. There was a significant difference in sTfR between enrolment and delivery (P<0·001) and the percentage of individuals with sTfR above the cut-off value, 28·1 nmol/l, increased from 21% at enrolment to 63% at delivery. Some 93% of cord blood samples had sTfR>28·1 nmol/l.

Table 2.

Indicators of iron status in pregnant women (n 220) and their neonates (n 123) in the Republic of Seychelles

	Enrolment	Delivery	Cord†
Ferritin (normal range: 15–300 ng/ml)
Mean	50·2	39·4	118·3
SD	49·4	42·1	87·3
95% CI	43·6, 56·7	33·8, 45·0	102·8, 133·9
sTfR (normal range: 8·7–28·1 nmol/l)
Mean	23·0	36·6*	53·9
SD	7·0	17·2	19·4
95% CI	22·1, 23·9	34·3, 38·9	50·5, 57·4
TBI (normal range: >0 mg/kg)
Mean	6·4	7·0	15·1
SD	3·3	2·6	5·4
95% CI	5·9, 6·8	6·7, 7·4	14·1, 16·0

sTfR, soluble transferrin receptor; TBI, total body Fe.

^*Significant difference between enrolment and delivery (P<0·05). Difference tested using a mixed model analysis adjusted for maternal age, maternal BMI, length of gestation, use of Fe supplements, Fe intake and parity.

^†Normal range for cord blood may vary from maternal blood.

Fe deficiency

At enrolment, 6% of subjects had both serum ferritin <15 ng/ml and sTfR>28·1 nmol/l; at delivery the number of subjects classified as Fe-deficient had increased to 20 %. A total of 28% of cord blood had both ferritin<60 ng/ml and sTfR>28·1 nmol/l, while 10% had ferritin<35 ng/ml and sTfR>28·1 nmol/l, the latter indicating severe Fe deficiency. Maternal Fe deficiency at enrolment was not associated with the Fe status of the neonates; however, those mothers who were Fe-deficient at delivery (n 30) had neonates with significantly lower serum ferritin (P=0·005) than those non-deficient at delivery (n 93).

Predictors of maternal Fe status and cord Fe status

Multivariate analysis revealed significant effects of maternal BMI (β = −0·72, 95% CI −1·05, −0·39), use of Fe supplements at 28 weeks’ gestation (β=−10·78, 95% CI −16·02, −5·54), first pregnancy (β=−8·03, 95% CI −12·67, −3·39) and parity (β=2·38, 95% CI 1·13, 3·64) on maternal sTfR. Parity was a significant factor on change in maternal ferritin levels over pregnancy (β=−5·38, 95% CI −10·44, −0·31). No factor was found to have a significant effect on cord sTfR or ferritin. A significant negative correlation was seen between sTfR at delivery and cord ferritin (r=−0·190; P=0·035). No association was seen between any maternal Fe status measure and birth weight, length or gestational age.

Discussion

Findings reported here would suggest that the incidence of Fe deficiency in pregnancy in this cohort is similar to that reported in industrialized countries and that the Fe status of pregnant women in Seychelles was on average within the normal range. Maternal BMI, use of Fe supplements at 28 weeks’ gestation and parity were important predictors of Fe status in this cohort. Maternal Fe status, particularly sTfR and ferritin at delivery, was associated with neonatal Fe status. Our results would support the importance of adequate Fe status in the final trimester to ensure adequate neonatal stores are achieved.

Using a combination of maternal ferritin and sTfR measures, a total of 6% of this cohort was Fe-deficient in early pregnancy, a figure which increased to 20% at delivery. As Fe deficiency precedes IDA and therefore is more common⁽⁸⁾, we would estimate that IDA would be present in less than 20% of this cohort, a percentage which is comparable to that reported for developed industrialised countries in which anaemia during pregnancy averages 23%^(4,8,30) and similar to the prevalence of 18% reported by WHO in 1992⁽⁵⁾. In 1961 the prevalence of anaemia in women in the Seychelles was reported as being 3·1% (Hb<80 g/l)⁽²²⁾. As 6% of women enrolled to the present study had Fe deficiency, it is possible that a similar proportion of women had IDA to that reported previously.

Mean maternal ferritin in this cohort at enrolment was 50·2 ng/ml, considerably higher than those reported in other studies of Fe status in pregnancy where ferritin levels at enrolment ranged from 17·5 to 38·7 ng/ml^(31–33). Indeed, maternal ferritin at delivery in the Republic of Seychelles was comparable to the first-trimester ferritin levels found in these studies and was considerably higher than those reported at delivery in studies where Fe supplementation during pregnancy was investigated^(34,35). The population of the Republic of Seychelles is not exposed to significant levels of pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides or Pb and it is a malaria-free country ⁽³⁶⁾. Therefore, the ferritin value reported at enrolment is most likely owing to dietary factors rather than an inflammatory response.

Mean enrolment sTfR of 23·0 nmol/l was below the cutoff of 28·1 nmol/l and compared well with those found by others in pregnancy, where values ranging from 12·63 to 24·7 nmol/l were reported^(31,33). Levels of sTfR at delivery reported in this pregnancy cohort of 36·6 nmol/l were comparable to those reported by others^(31,33).

Serum ferritin was not significantly different between enrolment and delivery, albeit there was a significant increase in sTfR. We speculate that the significant increase in sTfR may be due to the increased Fe requirement and Fe turnover in the last trimester of pregnancy^(37,38). The significant rise in sTfR during pregnancy may be a combined result of reduced erythropoiesis in the first trimester along with an increase in erythropoiesis in the later stages of pregnancy and a concurrent development of tissue Fe deficiency^(39,40). Nevertheless, TBI remained positive throughout pregnancy in this cohort suggesting that even when erythropoiesis activity was increased maternal Fe stores were not depleted.

In this cohort, maternal BMI and use of Fe supplements had positive effects on maternal sTfR whereas parity had a negative effect on both maternal sTfR and maternal ferritin. Universal Fe supplementation of pregnant women in the Seychelles is widely advocated and reported usage of Fe supplements in the present study rose from 23% at enrolment to 81% by 28 weeks’ gestation. Although there was no significant difference in Fe status measures at enrolment or at delivery between those who reported usage of Fe supplements and non-users, multivariate analysis would suggest that use of Fe supplements may have had a small, but significant, benefit to Fe status in this cohort. Dietary analysis of this population revealed an Fe intake of 9·5mg/d⁽²⁵⁾, which falls below the recommended nutrient intake for Fe during pregnancy in the UK of 14·8mg/d. In the Republic of Seychelles, nutritional guidelines are based on the UK dietary reference values⁽²⁵⁾. Although dietary Fe intake observed in the present study was low, the findings are comparable to those in populations in the UK⁽⁴¹⁾, Mexico⁽⁴²⁾ and South Africa⁽⁴³⁾, and the combination of dietary Fe and Fe received from supplement use would have provided 74·5mg Fe/d.

Other studies support our association of high parity with Fe deficiency^(40,44,45). Parity in particular appears to be associated, although not exclusively, with Fe deficiency in studies carried out in developing countries ^(46–48). It may be particularly important to inform multiparous women in developing countries, such as the Republic of Seychelles, of the importance of adequate Fe intake during pregnancy.

Generally, full-term infants are born with adequate Fe stores in the liver and haematopoietic tissue because of destruction of fetal red blood cells soon after birth. The cord Fe status measures were higher than maternal values which is similar to previous reports, albeit cord ferritin levels reported here of 118·3 ng/ml were on average lower than those reported by others^(49–51). In our study, mothers who were classified as Fe-deficient at delivery had neonates with significantly lower serum ferritin than those neonates born to mothers who were not deficient at delivery. This finding has been observed previously^(49,52–54) and highlights the importance of maternal Fe status at delivery as a determinant of neonatal ferritin levels. In the present study, maternal sTfR at delivery correlated significantly with neonatal ferritin, further supporting the hypothesis that neonatal Fe stores are dependent on maternal Fe status at delivery. The majority of fetal Fe uptake is after week 30 of gestation, when infant Fe stores are laid down⁽⁸⁾. This coincides with an increase in maternal erythropoiesis to maintain maternal Fe status, which is evident in this cohort where increased sTfR was seen at delivery.

The overall health of the nation has changed with improvements in free health care, education and sanitation leading to the Seychelles being ranked 35th in the world on the Human Development Index in 2004⁽³⁶⁾. Dietary patterns in Seychelles, however, are in a state of transition with a move towards a Western-style diet. Recent work by our group highlights the importance of fish as a dietary source of Fe⁽²⁵⁾. These findings suggest caution in establishing public health policies that promote limitation of fish intake during pregnancy.

The public health message for adequate intake of dietary Fe together with the use of Fe supplementation in pregnancy, especially in the last trimester and in multiparous women, needs to be promoted in the Seychelles to ensure optimal Fe status of the infant.