Anemia and iron deficiency: effects on pregnancy outcome

This article reviews current knowledge of the effects of maternal anemia an d iron deficiency on pregnancy outcome. A considerable amount of informatio n remains to be learned about the benefits of maternal iron supplementation on the health and iron status of the mother and her child during pregnancy and postpartum. Current knowledge indicates that iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy is a risk factor for preterm delivery and subsequent low birth w eight, and possibly for inferior neonatal health. Data are inadequate to de termine the extent to which maternal anemia might contribute to maternal mo rtality. Even for women who enter pregnancy with reasonable iron stores, ir on supplements improve iron status during pregnancy and for a considerable length of time postpartum, thus providing some protection against iron defi ciency in the subsequent pregnancy. Mounting evidence indicates that matern al iron deficiency in pregnancy reduces fetal iron stores, perhaps well int o the first year of life. This deserves further exploration because of the tendency of infants to develop iron deficiency anemia and because of the do cumented adverse consequences of this condition on infant development. The weight of evidence supports the advisability of routine iron supplementatio n during pregnancy.