Latent iron deficiency in utero and its association with Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry results in more than 35 weeks gestational age newborns from the public health system

• Grant number: 16/02885-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2016
• End date: June 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Maternal and Child Health
• Principal Investigator: Carla Maria Ramos Germano
• Grantee: Leticia Valério Pallone
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Iron deficiency (DF) is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide, affecting about 25% of the world population. Iron deficiency anemia results in well-recognized effects on the central nervous system, as a decrease in nerve conduction velocity and cognitive-behavioral problems. However, the effects of DF without anemia are not fully elucidated. A recent study conducted in humans showed a strong relationship between intrauterine latent DF and changes in auditory nerve conductivity. This study aims to examine the relationship between latent DF measured by umbilical cord serum ferritin, in term newborns from the Public health System without perinatal problems, with normal hematocrit and auditory nerve conductivity quantified by BERA (Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry).