Maternal iron during pregnancy, birth outcome, and iron levels in adolescent girls of south Asian origin living in Southampton-UK

1754 birth records of South Asian babies born in Southampton in the period of 1979 to 1995 were collected and analysed. Mothers with a maternal Hb level less than 9,9 g.dl, had smaller babies than mothers with higher Hb levels. Forty three percent of mothers were anaemic (Hb < 11 g/dl). Whereas 32% of term babies were born to anaemic mothers, 67% of preterm babies were born from anaemic mothers. A cohort of South Asian births from 1979 to 1985 was searched to study the birth outcome trends of female babies. The mean birth weight for the girls was 2936 g, and the mothers' mean maternal Hb level was 11.1 g/dl. Girls born to mothers with low maternal Hb level had a birth weight significantly lower than girls born to mothers with higher maternal haemoglobin levels (P < 0.05). To explore the relationship between low maternal haemoglobin, birth weight and the iron status during adolescence, 240 South Asian girls aged 10-16 years born in Southampton, were selected at random from General Practitioners lists, of which 40 girls (16.7%) agreed to participate in the study. They were contacted and interviewed, and they completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Out of these forty girls, 28 (70%) agreed to give a blood sample for haematological analysis. Birth weight and Hb levels during adolescence were statistically significantly lower in girls born to mothers who had lower Hb levels during pregnancy. Girls born with lower birth weight had lower Hb and serum ferritin (SF) levels during adolescence than other girls (P < 0.05). Current dietary intakes of iron 12.5 mg (SD ± 4.1), protein 73.5 g (SD ± 18.8), and vitamin C 99g (SD ± 59) in the girls measured by FFQ were not significantly related to adolescent Hb and SF levels. Despite limited number there were statistically significant associations between maternal Hb, and birthweight, and their Hb and SF levels that warrant further investigation.

University of Southampton

Al-Dallal, Zuhair Salman Majed

80c5e40a-de9e-4b7f-9b1f-053a24eea25a

1998

Al-Dallal, Zuhair Salman Majed

80c5e40a-de9e-4b7f-9b1f-053a24eea25a

Al-Dallal, Zuhair Salman Majed (1998) Maternal iron during pregnancy, birth outcome, and iron levels in adolescent girls of south Asian origin living in Southampton-UK. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)