American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 59, 502S-508S, Copyright © 1994 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

REVIEW ARTICLES

Iron deficiency: assessment during pregnancy and its importance in pregnant adolescents

JL Beard
Nutrition Department, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.

The assessment of iron deficiency in pregnancy requires the accurate determination of indicators that have significant within-subject variability. For instance, serum ferritin concentrations may vary by as much as 25% from one day to the next. Added to this uncertainty about biological variability is the influence of plasma volume expansion on concentration-dependent indexes such as ferritin, plasma iron, and hemoglobin. Multiple measurements of iron status are suggested, and, if this is not possible, within-subject variability needs to be included in the confidence of assigning individuals to iron-status groups. An example of this former approach is shown for a group of pregnant adolescents with a very high prevalence of iron deficiency. Although the assessment of iron status in human populations is advanced compared with that of other nutrients, there is still a large uncertainty about absolute diagnosis during pregnancy.

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