Iron deficiency is the number one micronutrient deficiency in the world, estimated to affect 2 billion people. Pregnant women and infants are particularly vulnerable, due to their high requirements for growth and development. Fetal iron accretion is further compromised by maternal and pregnancy-related conditions including preterm birth, obesity and C-section delivery. Iron deficiency in the prenatal and early postnatal periods can have catastrophic consequences for both mother and infant, including long-lasting, irreversible deficits in cognition, motor function and behaviour. As prevention of iron deficiency is difficult on a population basis, strategies targeting the early detection of iron deficiency during pregnancy and infancy are required to identify individuals in need of intervention. However, there are no screening strategies for the early detection of iron deficiency in pregnant women and infants in Ireland. This project aims to construct and validate two screening tools, one for pregnant women and their infants and a second for preterm infants, to identify individuals at an increased risk of iron deficiency. The screening tools will incorporate a set of predictive indicators, synthesised from the literature and from applying a data-driven, personalised approach to nutritional, clinical and biochemical data collected during pregnancy and early-life in existing maternal-infant cohorts. The validated screening tools will then be integrated into clinical practice and policy to facilitate the early detection of iron deficiency in pregnant woman and infants, enabling prompt, personalised and targeted treatment and providing an invaluable opportunity to prevent the long-term neurological and health consequences of iron deficiency. This preventive nutritional approach will benefit the health and wellbeing of the Irish population, by protecting brain development, leading to improved educational attainment, job potential and quality of life. The screening tools will also aid the diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency in the clinical setting, a leading cause of malnutrition worldwide.
