Increased BMI is associated with lower iron status and increased inflammation and oxidative stress in postpartum women

Abstract

The relationship of body mass index (BMI) to markers of iron status, inflammation, and oxidative stress in postpartum women is not well documented. We examined associations between BMI and markers of iron status (hemoglobin (Hb), ferritin, hepcidin, and transferrin saturation (TfSat)), inflammation (C‐reactive protein (CRP) and α‐1‐acid glycoprotein (AGP)), and oxidative stress (isoprostane and 8‐hydroxy‐2‐deoxyguanosine (8OHdG)) in 114 lactating women enrolled in a randomized placebo‐controlled trial of iron‐containing prenatal vitamin‐mineral supplements. Blood samples were collected before and after 3 mo of supplementation. At baseline (x̄ = 13.8 d postpartum), BMI was positively correlated with CRP (r=0.21, P=0.03) and AGP (r=0.29, P<0.01), and negatively correlated with Hb (r=−0.20, P=0.03), ferritin (r=−0.35, P<0.001), and TfSat (r=−0.24, P=0.01). At the final visit (n=95; x̄ = 17.3 wk postpartum), BMI was positively correlated with CRP (r=0.48, P<0.0001), AGP (r=0.60, P<0.0001), and isoprostane (r=0.32, P<0.01), and negatively correlated with ferritin (r=−0.27, P<0.01) and TfSat (r=−0.27, P<0.01). There was a trend toward a negative correlation between BMI and hepcidin at the final time point (r=−0.19, P=0.067). Higher BMI is related to lower iron status and increased inflammation and oxidative stress in postpartum women.Grant Funding Source : Center for Health and Nutrition Research at UC Davis