Dietary Iron Fortification Normalizes Fetal Hematology, Hepcidin, and Iron Distribution in a Rat Model of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

Abstract

Maternal oral iron fortification mitigated PAE's disruption of fetal iron homeostasis and improved brain iron content, hematologic indices, and hepcidin production in this rat PAE model. Clinical studies show maternal ID substantially enhances fetal vulnerability to PAE, and our work supports increased maternal dietary iron intake may improve fetal iron status in alcohol-exposed pregnancies.