Foetal exposure to maternal iron deficiency anaemia and its consequences in early childhood development

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency (ID), a major cause of anaemia, is the most common micronutrient deficiency globally and is particularly prevalent among pregnant women and young children due to increased physiological iron demands. Women may enter pregnancy with depleted iron stores owing to factors such as inadequate dietary intake, heavy menstrual bleeding, chronic inflammation, smoking, or obesity, and are at further risk of developing ID or iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) as maternal iron requirements rise to support plasma volume expansion and placental and foetal development. Foetal iron accretion occurs unidirectionally, predominantly during the third trimester, often at the expense of maternal iron stores. Consequently, maternal ID or IDA during pregnancy may impair foetal iron transfer and has been associated with low birth weight, preterm birth, small-for-gestational-age infants, infant anaemia, and poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes.