Effect Of Maternal Cigarette Smoking On Newborn Iron Stores

Irina Pateva,Elisabeth Kerling,Susan Carlson,Manju Reddy,Dan Chen,Jakica Tancabelic

doi:10.1182/blood.v122.21.4671.4671

Irina Pateva, Elisabeth Kerling + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.v122.21.4671.4671

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Abstract

Objective Previous small-scale studies suggest that maternal smoking lowers neonatal body iron. Our objective was to study and compare the relationship between maternal and infants’ body iron in smokers and non-smokers in a large matched-pair cohort. Method This was a prospective cohort study involving 144 mothers – 72 smokers and 72 non-smokers and their respective infants. Samples were obtained from maternal blood and infants’ cord blood at delivery for serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) and ferritin levels. Serum TfR and ferritin levels were measured by RAMCO ELISA and RIA assays. The total body iron (TBI) was calculated using the sTfR/ferritin ratio. Results Maternal total body iron and smoking status Women who smoked had lower sTfR, higher ferritin and higher body iron compared to nonsmoking women. Infant’s total body iron, measurements at birth and smoking status In contrast to their respective mothers, we found a small but statistically significant negative correlation between smoking and infants’ total body iron. The number of PPD smoked was negatively correlated with infants’ ferritin and total body iron. The number of days smoked during pregnancy was also negatively correlated with infants’ ferritin and total body iron and positively correlated with infants' sTfR. Birth weight was lower in babies of smokers compared to nonsmokers (mean /- SD =3270 +/-475 vs. 3393 g +/- 475 g, p=0.03). Correlation studies revealed that birth weight in infants of smokers was negatively correlated with PPD smoked and number of days smoked. Birth length in the same infants was also negatively correlated with PPD smoked and number of days smoked. Conclusion Mothers who smoked during pregnancy had higher iron stores but their newborn infants had lower iron stores than those of non-smoking mothers. There may be a negative dose-dependent response between fetal smoke exposure and infant iron stores. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Highlights

An adequate body iron balance is essential to the function of all mammalian cells
Total Body Iron (TBI) was calculated using the serum transferrin receptor (sTfR)/ferritin ratio in a previously described formula by Cook et al Results: Women who smoked had lower sTfR, higher ferritin and higher body iron compared to nonsmoking women
Women who smoked during pregnancy had higher iron stores but their newborn infants had lower iron stores than those of non-smoking mothers

Summary

Introduction

An adequate body iron balance is essential to the function of all mammalian cells. Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common micronutrient deficiency in the world affecting 2 billion individuals and 30-50% of pregnant women [1]. Total Body Iron (TBI) was calculated using the sTf R/ferritin ratio in a previously described formula by Cook et al Results: Women who smoked had lower sTf R, higher ferritin and higher body iron compared to nonsmoking women. In contrast to their respective mothers, we found a small, but statistically significant negative correlation between smoking and infants’ total body iron. The number of packs per day smoked was negatively correlated with infants’ ferritin and total body iron. Small research studies have found a negative correlation between maternal smoking and neonatal body iron

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