The effect of maternal iron status and intake during pregnancy on cardiovascular disease risk in the offspring. (360G-Wellcome-087789_Z_08_Z)

Mother's diet during pregnancy plays an essential role in early foetal development. There is no satisfactory epidemiological evidence to date investigating the relationship between maternal iron during pregnancy, and cardiovascular outcomes in the adult offspring. This project aims to assess the effect of both maternal iron status, measured by serum transferrin receptor to serum ferritin ratio, and iron intake during pregnancy, from diet and supplements, on offspring outcomes. These include blood pressure and weight in the adult offspring, and infant outcomes including birthweight. There is substantial evidence of increased cardiovascular risk with low birthweight. Therefore, the relationship between maternal iron and cardiovascular risk in the offspring will be tested to assess if it is direct or mediated by birthweight. This will be achieved using both prospective and historical cohort designs. Data from three prospective birth cohorts will be used to examine the effect of mat ernal iron intake and status on infant outcomes. Using historical cohort design, the offspring of women with a C282Y mutation, who have higher iron stores than the general population, will be recruited. Their blood pressure, body mass index and waist circumference will be measured and compared to the offspring of women with a wild type gene.