The Importance of Micronutrient Deficiency in the Etiology of Anemia in the First Trimester of Pregnancy: a Cross-Sectional Study

Year 2024, Volume: 14 Issue: 3, 304 - 310, 31.12.2024

Samet Kırat

Abstract

Aim: Anemia is a common pregnancy complication, with iron, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies being the most frequent causes. This study aimed to evaluate the role of micronutrient deficiencies in the etiology of anemia during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Material and Method: Between January 2023 and January 2024, 271 pregnant women aged 18–50 years who presented to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary university hospital were included in this study. Demographic data and hemoglobin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), ferritin, folate, and vitamin B12 levels were obtained retrospectively from medical records. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1st trimester hemoglobin <11 g/dl and hematocrit <33% were considered as anemia, ferritin <15 ng/ml as iron deficiency, serum folate <3 ng/ml, and vitamin B12 <200 pg/ml as a deficiency.
Results: In total, 107 (39.5%) pregnant women had anemia. Pregnant women with and without anemia were similar in terms of age, gravidity, parity, abortion, gestational week, infant birth weight, APGAR scores at 1 and 5 min, folate levels, and vitamin B12 deficiency levels. Those with anemia had significantly lower serum iron (p=0.006) and ferritin levels (p<0.001), and higher TIBC levels (p<0.001) than those without anemia. Ferritin was <15 ng/ ml in 61.7% (n=66) of those with anemia (p<0.001). Vitamin B12 deficiency was present in one of the three pregnant women with anemia. There were only four pregnant women with folate deficiency, and none of them had anemia.
Conclusion: Providing adequate micronutrient support before and during pregnancy prevents anemia. Therefore, pregnancy follow-up protocols should emphasize regular screening for micronutrient deficiencies.

Keywords

anemia, iron deficiency, ferritin, folate; vitamin B12 deficiency

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