Iron overload and pregnancy outcome among Sudanese women

ABSTRACT

Dispensing iron tablets to pregnant women at antenatal clinics is a common practice in Sudan.Iron overload and; consequently; oxidative stress is a possible risk.Objective: In this study; we examined the iron status in pregnant women in correlation to pregnancy outcome.Subjects and methods: The study was conducted in Khartoum state; Sudan in the period December 2007 February 2009. Venous blood samples were obtained from 123 women at delivery.Undesirable pregnancy outcomes as preeclampsia; low birth weight; caesarean sections and preterm delivery; if any; were recorded. Serum iron and hematological parameters were determined.Results: Mothers were grouped; according to their serum iron levels; as low serum iron (LSI 50 7g/dl; n170 7g/dl;n=11) groups. The incidence of preeclampsia was highest among the IOL group (72.7); followed by the LSI group (35.7) and lowest among the NSI (19.4) group; p=. The mean babies' birth weights were comparable among the IOL and the LSI groups but both were significantly lower than that among the NSI group.Conclusion: Iron supplementation to pregnant women must be rationalized so that women will benefit without developing undesirable effects