Premium
Maternal iron status during pregnancy and child behavior/temperament
Author(s) -
MurrayKolb Laura E.,
Beard John L.,
Susman Elizabeth J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a192
Subject(s) - cbcl , child behavior checklist , medicine , gestation , temperament , serum iron , iron deficiency , transferrin saturation , pregnancy , hemoglobin , obstetrics , pediatrics , psychology , anemia , clinical psychology , personality , biology , social psychology , genetics
Maternal iron status has been shown to be related to infant development (Perez et al. 2005). We report on the relationship between maternal iron status in early pregnancy and child behavior several years later assessed in a longitudinal study in pregnant adolescents. Data were collected from ≤ 16 wks gestation (n=67) through 3 years postpartum (n=60). Maternal blood samples were collected at ≤ 16 wks (T1) and 32–34 wks (T2) gestation, and at 2 wks postpartum (T3). Iron variables measured at T1 and T3 included: serum ferritin, plasma iron and TIBC, transferrin saturation, hemoglobin, and hematocrit. At T1, 42% of the adolescents were iron sufficient (CN), but by T3, only 7% were iron sufficient. Child behavior and temperament at 3 years of age were assessed via standard child behavior scales (CBCL and CBQ). There was a significant difference in total CBCL score ( P =0.032) and the externalizing scale of the CBCL ( P =0.0103) between children of moms classified as CN vs. those classified as ID at T1. Aggressive and destructive behavior subscales (used to computed the externalizing score) were also significantly different between the CN and ID groups ( P =0.029 and 0.011, respectively). Children of ID moms (T1) scored lower on the above CBCL scales. For the CBQ, MANOVA revealed a higher score on inhibitory control and low intensity pleasure scales ( P =0.0040 and 0.0055, respectively) for those children of moms classified as ID vs. those classified as CN at T1. No relationships were found between iron status at T3 and child behavior or temperament at 3 years of age. These data reveal a relation between maternal iron status during the first half of pregnancy and subsequent behavior/temperament in 3 year old children. (Supported by NICHD)