[Local data] Iron status among Hong Kong mothers and infants

Iron deficiency is common over the globe and at-risk populations include pregnant women and young children. A local study including 97 mother-infant dyads examined how prenatal iron level impacts ferritin level in early infancy:

• Maternal iron deficiency (defined as serum ferritin level < 30 mcg/L) is common
  • Noted in 56% of mothers upon delivery
• Only 3 infants showed iron deficiency (defined as serum ferritin level < 12 mcg/L) at 3 months of age
  • No infant predominantly fed with formula had iron deficiency
• Cord blood serum ferritin levels were significantly higher than maternal ferritin levels, 148.9 ± 53.4 mcg/L vs 36.4 ± 35.9 mcg/L)
• No significant association between maternal ferritin levels with cord blood serum ferritin levels (r = 0.168; p = 0.108) nor with infant ferritin levels at 3 months (r = 0.023; p = 0.828)
• Infants ferritin levels at 3 months of age were independently related to cord blood serum ferritin levels (p = 0.007) and birth weight (p = 0.001) after adjustment