Hepcidin levels are low during pregnancy and increase around delivery in women without iron deficiency – a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Objective: To investigate hepcidin during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum in women with sufficient iron supplementation.

Methods: Hepcidin was measured using LC–MS spectroscopy in 37 women during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum period in this longitudinal study.

Results: Hepcidin was low during pregnancy and increased at delivery and postpartum. No correlations with inflammatory markers or iron metabolism were observed during pregnancy; at delivery a correlation with inflammatory markers was observed.

Conclusion: During pregnancy, in women with sufficient iron supplementation, hepcidin is low and does not reflect iron status. During delivery and the postpartum period, hepcidin functions as a marker of inflammation.

Keywords:

• Anemia
• delivery
• hepcidin 25
• iron deficiency
• pregnancy

Acknowledgements

We thank the participating women for their conscientious cooperation and the entire staff at the Departments of Obstetrics and Clinical Biochemistry for their expert assistance.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts declarations of interest. No funding was obtained for this study.