Plasma ferritin in the assessment of iron status of Indian infants.

In order to assess the iron nutritional status of infants, plasma ferritin levels were measured in the infants and children at different time intervals till two years of age from two different socio economic groups. While ferritin levels at 3-4 months age were significantly higher in upper income group infants, levels were almost similar in the subsequent infancy between the two income groups. A close correlation was seen between ferritin levels of mothers and infants at 1-3 months of age (p less than 0.001). Prenatal iron supplements (oral or parenteral) resulted in higher ferritin levels at 4-6 months age as compared to placebo group. While the infants born to mothers receiving parenteral iron did not show any evidence of iron deficiency (serum ferritin levels less than 12 ng/ml), 23.5 and 25.0% of infants in oral iron and placebo group had evidence of iron deficiency between 6-12 months. Thus it would appear that improving the iron status of mothers during pregnancy will have significant impact on the iron status of breast fed infants till 6 months.

Feasibility of parenteral iron therapy as a field approach for management of pregnancy anaemia.

The feasibility of parenteral iron administration for treatment of pregnancy anaemia, in field conditions was investigated. High reaction rates were observed (30-40%) with either intramuscular (im) or intravenous (iv) iron-dextran complex (test dose). Mothers with lower body weight had higher reaction rates with both im or iv iron-dextran complex. In pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) the reaction rate was significantly lower. Our study indicates that under the existing situations of the health care system in India and the poor body weight and weight gain of Indian women during pregnancy, parenteral iron therapy for controlling anaemia may not be a feasible approach, at the field level.