Maternal anemia type during pregnancy is associated with anemia risk among offspring during infancy

We evaluated the association between etiology of maternal anemiaand iron status throughout infancy. Samples from a study designed to examine Praziquanteltreatment during pregnancy were used (n = 359). All women were infected with schistosomiasisand randomized to Praziquantelor placebo at 16 ± 2 weeks’ gestation. Hemoglobin, serum ferritin (SF), soluble transferrin receptor(sTfR), hepcidin, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 were measured in maternaland infant blood. The relationship between both maternal Praziquanteltreatment and etiology of anemiaand infant iron status was evaluated. Maternal iron-deficiency anemiawas associated with increased risk of infant anemiaat 6 months of age. Infants of mothers with the lowest levels of circulating hepcidinduring gestation, likely a marker for iron deficiency, had higher sTfR:SF levels and lower hemoglobin levels, particularly at 12 months of age. Maternalnon- iron-deficiency anemia(NIDA) did not impact infant anemiarisk or iron status. Maternaltreatment for schistosomiasishad no effect on infant hematologic status. Maternal iron deficiency anemiawas associated with an increased risk for anemiaor iron deficiency during late infancy. We did not observe an association between maternalNIDA and increased risk for iron deficiency during infancy.