POSTPARTUM MATERNAL BLOOD HELPER-T (CD3(-T (CD3(+)CD8(+)) CELLS - CORRELATIONS WITH IRON STATUS, PARITY, SUPPLEMENT USE, AND LACTATION STATUS()CD4(+)) AND CYTOTOXIC)

Iron deficiency reduces T cell counts; however, iron sufficiency is di fficult to maintain during pregnancy and to reestablish in the early p ostpartum period. This cross-sectional study examined relations among postpartum maternal iron status, parity, lactation, supplement use, an d maternal blood T cell populations. Sixty lactating and 41 nonlactati ng postpartum (NLPP) women at 1-2 wk and 1, 2, 4, or 8 mo postpartum a nd 13 nulliparous women were studied. Among multiparous women, multipl e linear regression showed that relative percentages and absolute numb ers of CD3(+)CD8(+) cells were correlated positively with maternal ser um transferrin saturation. In a separate multiple linear regression mo del, multiparous NLPP women who did not use multivitamin and mineral s upplements had lower CD3(+)CD4(+) cell percentages in the first month postpartum than did nulliparous control women. Lactating women who use d supplements, however, had reduced CD3(+)CD4(+) percentages 4-8 mo po stpartum compared with control women. CD3(+)CD4(+) percentages did not differ among control women, NLPP women who used supplements, or lacta ting women who did not use them. These results suggest that nutritiona l factors such as maternal iron status and use of dietary supplements play a role in a mother's postpartum immune status.