A study on assessment of different levels of iron, TIBC, transferrin and ferritin during pregnancy trimesters and lactation

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder in the pregnant women. This study was conducted to investigate the possible contribution and impact of iron status on pregnancy in a costal population. One hundred seventy pregnant women aged between 18-38 years are taken in the current study. The women were followed up weekly till delivery after which neonatal anthropometrics and other birth out comes were recorded. Mean serum Hemoglobin, ferritin and iron were found to be lower in 3rd trimester as compared to 1st trimester, which become lower at postpartum then reach nearly to normal value during lactation. While serum ferritin was found to be lower in 2nd trimester as compared to 1st trimester, it was significantly higher in 3rd as compared to second trimesters and also decreased at postpartum and lactation. Serum TIBC, transferrin and Fe/TIBC levels increased during 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters, Serum TIBC also elevated at postpartum, then decreased during lactation. This result provides that, it is important to detect which form of iron become abnormal during trimesters of pregnancy, postpartum and lactation which may lead to cause of nutritional deficiency in pregnant women, so as to reduce public problem.