Expert consensus on improving iron deficiency anemia management in obstetrics and gynecology in Asia.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a major health burden among women in Asia. Key issues in IDA management in Asia are under-diagnosis and under-treatment. The lack of Asia-specific guidelines, and suboptimal utilization of treatment compounds the management of IDA. To address these gaps, a panel of 12 experts in obstetrics, gynecology, and hematology from six regions in Asia convened to review current practices and clinical evidence and provide practical guidance on IDA diagnosis and management in Asian women. The Delphi approach was used to obtain objective opinions and attain consensus on statements pertaining to awareness, diagnosis, and management of IDA. In total, 79 statements attained consensus and are summarized to provide guidance on raising awareness of IDA and approaches for improved diagnosis and treatment of IDA among women in various settings: pregnancy, postpartum, heavy menstrual bleeding, gynecologic cancers, and perioperative care. This clinician-led consensus integrates appropriate recommendations based on clinical evidence and best practices and is intended to guide decision making in the management of iron deficiency/IDA in women. The expert panel raises a call for timely diagnosis and utilization of appropriate treatment, including use of high-dose intravenous iron, stringent blood management, and interdisciplinary collaboration, for optimization of IDA management among women in Asia.

Maternal supplementation with citrulline or arginine during gestation impacts fetal amino acid availability in a model of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

BACKGROUND: Supplementing maternal diet with citrulline or arginine during gestation was shown to enhance fetal growth in a model of IUGR induced by maternal dietary protein restriction in the rat. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to determine in the same model whether maternal supplementation with citrulline or arginine would increase 1) citrulline and arginine concentration in fetal circulation; 2) the expression of placental amino acid transporters, and 3) the fetal availability of essential amino acids. METHODS: Pregnant rats (n = 8 per group) were fed either an isocaloric control (20% protein, NP) or a low protein (LP, 4% protein) diet, either alone or supplemented with 2 g/kg/d of l-citrulline (LP + CIT) or isonitrogenous Arginine (LP + ARG) in drinking water throughout gestation. Fetuses were extracted by C-section on the 21st day of gestation. The gene expression of system A (Slc38a1, Slc38a2, and Slc38a4) and L (Slc7a2, Slc7a5, Slc7a8) amino acid transporters was measured in placenta and amino acid concentrations determined in maternal and fetal plasma. RESULTS: Maternal LP diet decreased fetal (4.01 ± 0.03 vs. 5.45 ± 0.07 g, p < 0.0001) and placental weight (0.617 ± 0.01 vs. 0.392 ± 0.04 g, p < 0.001), by 26 and 36% respectively, compared with NP diet. Supplementation with either CIT or ARG increased fetal birth weight by ≈ 5 or 11%, respectively (4.21 ± 0.05 and 4.48 ± 0.05 g vs. 4.01 ± 0.03 g, p < 0.05). CIT supplementation produced a 5- and 2-fold increase in fetal plasma citrulline and arginine, respectively, whereas ARG supplementation only increased fetal arginine concentration. LP diet led to lower placental SNAT 4 mRNA, and higher LAT2 and SNAT1 expression, compared with NP. SNAT4, 4hFC, LAT2 mRNA were up-regulated in LP + CIT and LP + ARG group compared with the un-supplemented LP group. Higher level of LAT1 mRNA was also observed in the LP + CIT group than in the LP group (p < 0.01). SNAT2 expression was unchanged in response to CIT or ARG supplementation. Fetal amino acid concentrations were decreased by LP diet, and were not restored by CIT or ARG supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings confirm supplementation with citrulline or arginine enhances fetal growth in a rat model of IUGR. They further suggest that: 1) citrulline and arginine administered orally to the pregnant mother may reach fetal circulation; 2) citrulline effectively raises fetal arginine availability; and 3) although it failed to increase the concentrations of essential amino acids in fetal plasma, citrulline or arginine supplementation upregulates the gene expression of several placental amino acid transporters.