Maternal adiposity and inflammation: risk factors for iron deficiency in pregnancy

Background: Obesity and iron deficiency (ID) are global health concerns in pregnancy, with serious consequences for mother and offspring. The inflammatory state associated with obesity and its potential contribution to ID/anemia is unclear. Objective: To investigate the associations between maternal adiposity, the mediating role of inflammation and iron status. We also aim to examine how adiposity affects the predictive accuracy of early pregnancy iron markers for late pregnancy ID risk. Methods: This secondary analysis of a double-blind randomized controlled trial included singleton pregnancies supplemented with a multivitamin containing 17 mg/d of iron. BMI, body composition (12 gestational weeks (GW), iron markers (12, 28, 36 GW), and hemoglobin/hematological indices (12, 28 GW, postpartum) were assessed. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were used to calculate an inflammation score and categorized as high/low inflammation. Results: 125 pregnant women were included: 43 normal weight, 44 overweight, and 38 with obesity. At 36 GW, ID was present in 50% of women with obesity, 40.9% of those overweight, and 30.2% with normal BMI. High BMI and fat mass index (FMI) at 12 GW predicted lower ferritin at 36 GW (BMI β=-0.253, p=0.020; FMI β=-0.265, p=0.010) and all adiposity measures predicted higher soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR). Transferrin saturation was lower in women with obesity at 12 and 28 GW (12 GW 23.9, 24.5, 30.3%, p=0.016; 28GW 13.2, 17.7, 17.2% p