Non-Heme Iron Metabolism Indexes in Newborn Infants of Various Gestational Age in Early Neonatal Period

Iron, a basic component of human cells and tissues, is involved in transportation of oxygen and electrons, destruction of peroxidates, oxidative phosphorylation, porphyrin metabolism, collagen synthesis, action of lymphocytes and granulocytes. The bulk of iron is transferred from mother to fetus antenatally during the second half of pregnancy and its quantity mostly depends on the pregnancy course and duration. It is concluded that metabolism of non-heme iron in premature infants has its specific features associated with premature birth which cannot but affect subsequent variations in the postnatal metabolism of iron resulting in iron deficiency and asiderotic anemia