With the aim of discovering the biochemical alterations related to pregnancy and involving iron, the pre-natal case-histories of 250 pregnant women were studied. These women were non-anemic (Hb > 11.0g/dl) and free from pathological symptoms, both before and during pregnancy. The factors assessed: hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrite (Ht), serum iron (SI), total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation (TS) were plotted against gestational age, measured in weeks and in months. The Hb and Ht values diminished up to about the 7th month, when they showed an increase which continued up to the end of the pregnancy. The same was observed in relation to SI. The TIBC showed an increase throughout pregnancy while the TS diminished throughout the whole period of gestation. The results observed justify the suggestion of iron supplementation as an easy public health strategy to be applied in the control of iron deficiency, even among non-anemic women.
Pregnancy; Anemia, hypochromic