Contribution of Maternal Rat Iron Stores to Fetal Iron in Maternal Iron Deficiency and Overload

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Abstract
The contribution of maternal iron stores to fetal iron in rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain has been examined under conditions of maternal iron deficiency and overload. In maternal iron deficiency fetal iron content is preserved but the fetus obtains more iron from maternal absorption. However, more of the fetal iron than normal is present as heme iron. In maternal iron overload fetal iron content is not increased and the fetus obtains less iron from maternal absorption. Most of this fetal iron is present as nonheme iron.