Maternal Prenatal Psychosocial Stress and Prepregnancy BMI Associations with Fetal Iron Status.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Iron accrued in utero is critical for fetal and infant neurocognitive development. Psychosocial stress and obesity can each suppress fetal iron accrual. Their combined effects and differences by fetal sex are not known. In an observational pregnancy cohort study in Mexico City, we investigated associations of maternal prenatal life stressors, psychological dysfunction, and prepregnancy BMI with fetal iron status at delivery.

Objectives

We hypothesized that greater maternal prenatal psychosocial stress and prepregnancy overweight and obesity are associated with lower cord blood ferritin and hemoglobin (Hb), with stronger associations in boys than girls.

Methods

Psychosocial stress in multiple domains of life stress (negative life events, perceived stress, ex

SUBMITTER: Campbell RK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7026381 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature