TABLE 2.
Maternal third-trimester and neonatal cord iron status, inflammatory, and iron regulatory indicators by prepregnancy BMI category1
| Variable | Obese women (n = 20) | Nonobese women (n = 22) | Neonates birthed by obese women (n = 20) | Neonates birthed by nonobese women (n = 22) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hemoglobin, g/dL | 10.7 (10.0–11.3) | 11.2 (10.6–11.7) | 13.6 (12.6–14.7) | 14.6 (13.6–15.7) |
| Anemia, % (n)2 | 40.0 (8.00) | 32.0 (7.00) | 35.0 (7.00) | 13.0 (3.00) |
| Ferritin, ng/mL3 | 14.5 (10.7–20.0) | 9.33 (7.08–12.6)4,5 | 129 (79.1–179) | 170 (120–219) |
| TBI, mg/kg3 | 5.63 (4.22–7.04) | 4.02 (2.68–5.35) | 11.1 (9.3–12.9) | 12.1 (10.4–13.9) |
| Iron, μg/dL | 57.1 (48.2–66.0) | 63.1 (54.7–71.6) | 137 (117–158) | 146 (126–167) |
| sTFR1, nmol/L3 | 25.7 (21.0–30.3) | 32.2 (27.8–36.7)5 | 44.1 (38.4–49.8) | 39.2 (33.5–44.9) |
| TSAT, % | 12.3 (10.0–14.8)4 | 11.5 (9.55–13.8)4 | 57.2 (48.8–65.7) | 62.7 (54.2–71.1) |
| Hepcidin, ng/mL | 22.7 (19.0–26.4) | 20.6 (17.1–24.1) | 131 (83.5–179) | 108 (61.4–155) |
| hs-CRP, mg/L | 8.30 (5.97–10.6) | 5.20 (3.02–7.38) | — | — |
| IL-6, pg/mL | 1.98 (1.41–2.55) | 2.11 (1.56–2.66) | 6.61 (4.79–9.33)4 | 5.75 (3.98–8.32)4 |
| EPO, mIU/mL | 32.5 (24.3–40.6) | 33.9 (26.1–41.7) | 24.5 (16.9–36.3)4 | 34.7 (2.39–51.3)4 |
Data are presented as standard least squares means (95% CIs) from generalized linear models (proc GLM) unless otherwise indicated. The maternal groups and neonatal groups were compared separately using generalized linear models for continuous variables and χ2 and Fisher exact tests for categorical variables. Maternal hepcidin was controlled for educational attainment, maternal TBI was controlled for marital status, maternal CRP was controlled for educational attainment, and cord iron and cord TSAT were controlled for WIC participation. Hemoglobin was measured from whole blood, and the other markers were measured from serum. EPO, erythropoietin; hs-CRP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; sTFR1, soluble transferrin receptor; TBI, total body iron; TSAT, transferrin saturation; WIC, Women, Infants, and Children.
Maternal anemia was defined as <10.2 g/dL for black women and <11.0 g/dL for nonblack women (16). Cord anemia was defined as hemoglobin <13.0 g/dL (30, 31).
Maternal serum ferritin was corrected for inflammation following the Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutritional Determinants of Anemia methods; corrected value was used to calculate TBI (36).
Data are presented as geometric least squares means (95% CIs).
Denotes P < 0.05.