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Differential Iron Status and Trafficking in Blood and Placenta of Anemic and Non-anemic Primigravida Supplemented with Daily and Weekly Iron Folic Acid Tablets

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Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The molecular mechanism of iron transfer across placenta in response to maternal anemic status/ iron supplementation is not clear. We hypothesized that maternal iron/ anemia status during early trimesters can be utilized as a biomarker tool to get estimates of placental iron status. Early interventions can be envisaged to maintain optimum placental/ foetal iron levels for healthy pregnancy outcomes. One hundred twenty primigravida were recruited and divided into non-anemic and anemic group on the basis of hemoglobin levels. The groups were randomly allocated to receive daily and weekly iron folic acid (IFA) tablets till six weeks postpartum. Hematological and iron status markers in blood and placenta were studied along with the delivery notes. Weekly IFA supplementation in anemic primigravidas resulted in significantly reduced levels of hematological markers (p < 0.01); whereas non-anemic primigravidas showed lower ferritin and iron levels, and higher soluble transferrin receptor levels (p < 0.05). At baseline, C-reactive protein and cortisol hormone levels were also significantly lower in non-anemic primigravidas (p < 0.05). A significantly decreased placental ferritin expression (p < 0.05); and an increased placental transferrin expression was seen in anemic primigravidas supplemented with weekly IFA tablets. A significant positive correlation was observed between serum and placental ferritin expression in anemic pregnant women (r = 0.80; p < 0.007). Infant weight, gestational length and placental weight were comparable in both the supplementation groups. To conclude, mother’s serum iron / anemia status switches the modulation in placental iron transporter expression for delivering the optimum iron to the foetus for healthy pregnancy outcomes.

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Clinical Trial Registry-India: CTRI/2014/10/005135.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are highly thankful to Mr. Santosh Kurra and Dr. Mohd. Tarique from Biochemistry department and Dr. Sandeep Mathur from Pathology department, AIIMS for their inputs in carrying out immunohistochemistry work. The authors also wish to acknowledge continuous support provided by Dr. Rohini Sehgal, Dr. Arun Kumar, Mrs. Leema Maithi and Mrs. Shobha Kandpal from HRRC, AIIMS for enrolment and follow-up of the patients.

Funding

This study was funded by Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India (grant no. 5/7/165/06-RHN and 5/7/304/08-RHN).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Hari Shankar

    Present address: National Institute of Malaria Research, Sector-8, Dwarka, New Delhi, India

  2. Suneeta Mittal

    Present address: Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, Haryana, 122001, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India

    Hari Shankar, Priyanka Verma & D. N. Rao

  2. Division of Reproductive & Child Health, Indian Council of Medical Research, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India

    Neeta Kumar

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160018, India

    Hari Shankar & Rajat Sandhir

  4. Division of Radiation Biosciences, Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences, Delhi, India

    Sanjay Pandey & Saurabh Singh

  5. National Institute of Malaria Research Field Unit, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India

    M. P. Singh

  6. National Institute of Medical Statistics, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India

    Tulsi Adhikari

  7. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India

    Suneeta Mittal

Authors
  1. Hari Shankar
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  10. D. N. Rao
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Correspondence to Hari Shankar or D. N. Rao.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Institutional Research Committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Ethics approval was obtained from the Institute Ethics Committee of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Shankar, H., Kumar, N., Sandhir, R. et al. Differential Iron Status and Trafficking in Blood and Placenta of Anemic and Non-anemic Primigravida Supplemented with Daily and Weekly Iron Folic Acid Tablets. Ind J Clin Biochem 35, 43–53 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-018-0794-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-018-0794-2

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