Gender Difference in Cord Serum Ferritin Concentrations

Tamura T, Hou J, Goldenberg RL, Johnston KE, Cliver SP · Neonatology · 1999 January

Objective

To measure cord serum ferritin concentrations in infants and evaluate the association between these values and various neonatal as well as maternal characteristics.

Conclusions

The mean ferritin concentration in female infants was significantly higher than that in males, with significant gender differences observed within groups of infants with fetal growth restriction, those weighing <3,000 g, and those whose mothers were African Americans or <25 years old. Maternal serum ferritin concentrations at 36 weeks of gestation significantly correlated with cord serum ferritin in male infants, suggesting a potential gender-specific influence on neonatal iron nutriture.

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Insights

Female neonates show significantly higher cord serum ferritin concentrations than male neonates, and this difference is crucial when assessing their iron nutriture post-birth.

The researchers measured cord serum ferritin concentrations in a total of 255 infants, divided into 116 females and 139 males. The study evaluated the relationship between these ferritin values and a series of neonatal and maternal characteristics. Notably, the study also considered specific groups such as infants with fetal growth restriction, infants with birth weights lower than 3,000g and infants with young or African American mothers. In the study, a significant correlation was discovered between the maternal serum ferritin concentration at the 36-week gestation mark and the cord serum ferritin of male infants, while the same association was found to be less significant in the case of female infants. The mechanism behind this gender difference in ferritin concentration is not yet fully understood.