Foetal iron exposure and cardiorespiratory health

Background/Objectives:

Too low iron and too high iron during pregnancy could influence the development of the heart and lungs. Our study aimed to study the association between iron status during early pregnancy and child’s cardiorespiratory health.

Subjects/Methods:

Using data from the Generation R study, this thesis investigated the ethnic differences in iron status during early pregnancy. We additionally evaluated the association between iron status in early pregnancy and various aspects of childhood cardiorespiratory health, including respiratory function, respiratory tract infections, cardiometabolic risk factors, body composition, and cardiac function and structure.

Results:

Differences in iron status across ethnic groups was observed, and while socioeconomic and lifestyle factors provided some explanation for these differences, a large proportion remined unexplained. Moreover, higher maternal transferrin during pregnancy, was associated with an increased risk of child’s inhalant allergy sensitization. Both low and high maternal ferritin and transferrin during early pregnancy were associated with an overall increased risk of child’s upper respiratory tract infections. Maternal lower ferritin and higher transferrin in early pregnancy are associated with child’s general fat. In boys only, higher haemoglobin was associated with lower right and left diastolic function while anaemia was associated with higher left diastolic function. No other associations between other iron status during early pregnancy and other child cardiorespiratory outcomes were identified.

Conclusion:

Maternal iron status during early pregnancy differs according to ethnic background. Both too low and too high iron during early pregnancy might lead to an increased risk of child’s upper respiratory tract infections and altered cardiovascular function. Too low iron of mother during pregnancy might lead to an increased risk of higher child’s body fat composition.