Maternal Serum Ferritin Levels and Its Effect on Cord Blood Hemoglobin in Patients With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus [ID 951]

INTRODUCTION: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common medical complication of pregnancy that can have negative effects on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Literature shows that elevated serum maternal ferritin levels may cause dysregulation in glucose metabolism in GDM. This study aims to determine the association between serum ferritin, iron, and hemoglobin levels in GDM patients at the time of delivery as well as cord hemoglobin and iron levels in newborns. METHODS: In this case–control study, a total of 100 patients were included, ie, 50 cases (GDM) and 50 controls (non-GDM) having aged-matched individuals of normal pregnancy. The hemoglobin, iron, serum ferritin, and hsCRP levels of the mother were determined using maternal blood. A cord blood sample was taken to determine neonatal iron and hemoglobin levels. RESULTS: The mean age of the study participants was 29.2±5.6 years. The ferritin levels of GDM mothers (42.3±6.7) were significantly higher than non-GDM patients (34.4±3.8) with P <.001. Similarly, cord hemoglobin levels of newborns of GDM mothers were significantly lower than newborns of non-GDM patients ( P <.01). In GDM mothers, maternal ferritin levels were inversely correlated to cord hemoglobin levels (r=−0.29, P =.004). This means that increased serum ferritin levels mean lower levels of cord hemoglobin levels. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Elevated maternal serum ferritin levels are linked to increased oxidative stress and affect fetal intrauterine and postpartum health. This oxidative stress might affect placental iron transfer and fetal hemoglobin synthesis.