Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effect of neonatal iron store on neurodevelopment of infants aged 6 months. Methods A total of 129 neonates born from November 2016 to January 2018 were prospectively selected. Cord blood ferritin，C⁃reactive protein and α1 acid glycoprotein were detected by enzyme⁃linked immunosorbent assay. According to the ferritin concentration in the cord blood，the neonates were divided into three groups：suffi⁃ cient，insufficient and deficient. Standard questionnaire was used to collect the data of parents and infants，and Gesell developmental diagnostic scale was used for evaluation of their neurodevelopment，with a follow ⁃ up of 6 months. The groups were compared in terms of the neurodevelopment. Results The average ferritin concentration of cord blood was（75.3 ± 45.0）μg/L，including 22 cases（17.1%）in the ferritin deficient group and 54 cases （41.9%）in the ferritin insufficient group. At 6 months of age，there were significant differences in the normal rates of adaptability and gross motor among the 3 groups（P < 0.05）. There were significant differences in the normal rates of adaptability and gross motor between the ferritin deficient and sufficient group（P < 0.05）. Conclusion Ferritin deficiency and insufficiency are common in neonates. The proportion of newborns with cord blood ferritin sufficient to achieve normal scores in adaptability and gross motor at 6 months of age is higher than that of neonates with cord blood ferritin deficient. Iron nutrition during pregnancy and iron store in neonates deserves further attention.

Key words:

cord blood, ferritin, infant, neurodevelopment