Iron and Vitamin Deficiency in Pregnancy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The laboratory assessment of haemoglobin, Ret-He, plasma ferritin, serum vitamin B12 and folate deficiency in anaemic and non-anaemic women during pregnancy: Can laboratory screening predict outcomes?
IRAS ID
256225
Contact name
Nicola Svenson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Hull & East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 27 days
Research summary
Anaemia in pregnancy is a worldwide health issue affecting both developing and developed countries with prevalence between 25% to 92%. Recent studies indicate a high incidence of iron deficiency in both anaemic and non-anaemic women during pregnancy, with a high frequency reported in the UK.
This will be a longitudinal observational study over the course of pregnancy (40 weeks) of approximately 526 women in Hull and East Yorkshire using surplus biological material after routine antenatal blood testing, therefore no requirement for additional samples. The study will investigate whether routine screening of pregnant women for haematinic deficiencies (iron, vitamin B12 and /or folate) can identify deficiencies earlier in pregnancy and predict the birth outcomes. It will also assess the haemoglobin content of early red cells, a newer measurement available on some automated full blood count analysers. This could be a useful measurement during pregnancy not only to identify possible iron deficiency but also to monitor response to iron supplementation. Birth outcomes will be measured as low birth weight, preterm birth or requirement of the mother for a blood transfusion either before during or after birth.
Routine screening using assessment of iron, vitamin B12 and folate is not currently recommended. Iron deficiency, thought to be the main contributor of anaemia during pregnancy, is confounded by expansion of plasma leading to a dilutional effect. Most studies have centred on providing trials of iron to assess improvement in haemoglobin levels. However, despite this there have been no significant improvements in the prevalence of anaemia in the UK or on birth outcomes, with the literature being contradictory.REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1347
Date of REC Opinion
28 Aug 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion