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

3 min read /
General Nutrition Obstetrics / Gynaecology Public health
[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

Link to publication:

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/iron-status-of-fullterm-infants-in-early-infancy-is-not-associated-with-maternal-ferritin-levels-nor-infant-feeding-practice/D02985F994FB98FA28E7C0ED0189EF0E

Reference

Chan KC et al. Iron status of full-term infants in early infancy is not associated with maternal ferritin levels nor infant feeding practice. Br J Nutr. 2021:1-20.


Other resources that you might be interested in:

[Practical tools] Nutrient intake calculator - Iron