Impact of dietary iron deficiency anemia on peripartum thyroid function in albino rats

  • Unique Paper ID: 161534
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 4
  • PageNo: 500-506
  • Abstract:
  • The aim of the study was to observe whether the dietary iron deficiency anemia impairs the thyroid functioning during peripartum period. Iron deficiency anemia is widely prevalent in India. It is the most pervasive of all nutritional deficiencies, particularly affecting pregnant women. iron deficiency may lead to abnormal functioning of thyroid gland as it plays an important role in synthesis as well as metabolism of thyroid hormones. Iron is an important component of many enzymes including thyroid peroxidase (TPO). It is very important to note the changes in the thyroid activity by severe anemia during peripartum period. The female albino rats of Wister strain were fed on iron deficient diets (30, 15, 7, 2 mgFe/kg of diet) and control diets (50 mgFe/kg of diet). Prior to one month of mating the females were anaesthetized by ether and the tail blood was collected for the evaluation of blood hemoglobin, hematocrit and estimation of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) hormone. The rats were then kept for mating. The tail blood was again collected during 18th–20th day of gestation and after ten days of delivery by anaesthetizing the females by ether. They were kept on the same diet throughout gestation and also after the deliveries. The analysis of the thyroid stimulating hormone was done by RIA kits. The hemoglobin, hematocrit and TSH were compared in all the three stages (before pregnancy, during pregnancy and after delivery) with decreasing levels of dietary iron, within the groups and between the groups by one way ANOVA. Significant (P<0.05) differences in the levels of the three parameters were observed. The two-way ANOVA (between iron diets and stages i.e., before pregnancy, during pregnancy and after delivery) also showed a significant (P<0.05) rise in the levels of TSH. The severely iron deficient mothers showed postpartum hypothyroidism. The preterm delivery (between 12th to 15th days) was also observed in severely iron deficient mothers (7 and 2 mgFe/kg of diet). The females with severe iron deficiency anemia (7, 2 mgFe/kg of diet) could not lactate and failed to conceive months after their first premature deliveries. The possible reason of postpartum rise in the TSH and hypothyroidism in the severe i

Cite This Article

  • ISSN: 2349-6002
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 4
  • PageNo: 500-506

Impact of dietary iron deficiency anemia on peripartum thyroid function in albino rats

Related Articles