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VOLUME 15 , ISSUE 3 ( September-December, 2024 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Association of Oxidative Stress and Iron Accumulation in Pregnant Women of Indian Origin with a History of Miscarriage: A Case–Control Study

Noopur Jued, Venkatachalam Deepa Parvathi, Nandini L, Ravindran Sumitha

Keywords : Iron accumulation, Iron supplementation, Miscarriage, Oxidative stress, Pregnancy

Citation Information : Jued N, Parvathi VD, L N, Sumitha R. Association of Oxidative Stress and Iron Accumulation in Pregnant Women of Indian Origin with a History of Miscarriage: A Case–Control Study. Int J Infertil Fetal Med 2024; 15 (3):123-129.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10016-1348

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 30-03-2025

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2024; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background: Miscarriage is prevalent globally, with oxidative stress being a significant contributing factor, particularly induced by iron accumulation and reduced antioxidant activity. Iron, essential for pregnancy, often leads to nutritional insufficiency, affecting 58% of pregnant women and 33% of the general population globally. It is recommended to take iron supplements to meet the higher needs during pregnancy, but dysregulation in iron homeostasis, including imbalances in transferrin–ferritin and hemolysis, can elevate labile iron pool concentrations, triggering the Fenton reaction leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS). This redox imbalance damages cellular components, particularly placental membranes, potentially leading to ferroptosis and miscarriage. While other research studies have explored these phenomena, only a few have focused on their interrelations, especially within the Indian population. Objective: This study aims to estimate iron status and oxidative stress due to iron accumulation in pregnant women of Indian origin with a history of miscarriage. Materials and methods: Blood samples were collected from 22 recruited participants, 11 healthy pregnant women formed the control group, while 11 pregnant women with a history of miscarriage formed the test group and were tested for serum iron levels and malondialdehyde (MDA) indicating oxidative stress were measured. Results and discussion: The test group exhibited lower hemoglobin and higher serum iron levels compared to the control group, with nil significance in transferrin or ferritin levels. However, the test group showed higher MDA levels, indicating oxidative stress due to iron accumulation-induced oxidative stress. A strong positive correlation between iron and MDA concentrations suggests a link between iron accumulation, lipid peroxidation, and oxidative stress. Conclusion: Elevated MDA levels associated with high serum iron accumulation support the hypothesis that iron-induced oxidative stress significantly influences early pregnancy loss or miscarriage.

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