study of the iron status in normal pregnant females

To determine the effect of iron supplementation during pregnancy, 120 healthypregnant females were chosen. Forty in each trimester, 10 of them were receiving ironearly in pregnancy and throughout the whole studied period, the other 30 did not. Another20 healthy females who had not been pregnant for the last three years served as a referencegroup. All blood samples obtained were subjected to complete blood count, serum iron,TIBC, serum transferrin and serum ferritin estimation.In the un supplemented group, there was a significant decrease in all parametersexcept TIBC and serum transferrin which showed a significant increase. The mean serumferritin concentration decreased to 9.66 ug/L (9.66 ng/ml) by the third trimester and wasassociated with the decrease of MCV values. Also, individual and average serum and totalplasma ferritin showed a deficit compared with the non-pregnant and first trimester values.It was also noticed that the incidence of iron deficiency anaemia increased with paritywhere the incidence in the multiparae (3 or more) was 80%, while in the nulliparae was50%.On the other hand, in the iron supplemented group, there was a slight fall inhaemoglobin level, red cell count, serum iron, transferrin saturation and serum ferritinconcentration. By the third trimester, the mean serum ferritin concentration was 20 ug/L(20 ng/ml) which was still above 12 ug/L (12 ng/ml) the proposed cut-off value forstorage depletion. At the same time, there was an increase in MCV values indicating activemarrow function and production of reticulocytes and no deficit in serum and total plasmaferritin occured as a result of pregnancy.