PhD defence H.G. (Hugo) Quezada Pinedo

Below is a brief summary about the dissertation:

Iron is an essential biological element involved in various cellular functions including oxygen delivery, electron transportation, and enzymatic activity. During pregnancy, iron need increases intensely due to maternal blood volume expansion and foetal demands derived from growth and development. Alteration of maternal iron status during pregnancy might lead to adaptations in the foetus, which consequently may lead to permanent alterations in the respiratory and cardiovascular development. Screening and identification of women for alterations in iron status during pregnancy with special focus on ethnicities at higher risk of iron deficiency and iron overload might improve healthcare and allow timely health interventions leading to reduce the burden of diseases.

This thesis was embedded in the Generation R study, a population-based prospective cohort study from foetal life onwards based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The main principal aims of this thesis were to evaluate the determinants of maternal iron status during early pregnancy, and assess if maternal iron status during early pregnancy is associated with child’s health. For this, we primarily explored the determinants of iron status during early pregnancy with focus on maternal ethnicity. Next, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore current gaps in the literature regarding the association of maternal iron status during pregnancy and offspring outcomes. Further, we assessed whether maternal iron status during pregnancy was associated with child’s respiratory health. Moreover, we assessed whether maternal iron status during pregnancy was associated with child’s cardiovascular health.