Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Absorption of Heme and Non-Heme Iron in Pregnant and Non-pregnant Women and Mechanisms of Fetal Iron Transfer
Brief Summary: The three specific aims of this study are 1) to assess the impact of iron status on relative differences in absorption of heme and non-heme iron among pregnant women and non-pregnant women, 2) to assess the magnitude and the determinants of heme and non-heme iron transfer to the fetus over the last trimester of pregnancy, and 3) to characterize relationships between placental iron binding proteins with the enrichment of stable iron isotopes in the neonate at birth. The investigators hypothesize that there will be up regulation of heme and non-heme iron absorption and up regulation of placental iron transport proteins in response to low maternal iron stores.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant subjects (15-35 yrs): non-smoking,healthy with uncomplicated pregnancies at time of enrollment
* Non-pregnant subjects (18-35 yrs): healthy, non-smoking, not taking vitamin or mineral supplements and not planning on becoming pregnant during course of study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant subjects: gestational diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, underlying malabsorption diseases or other diagnosed medical problems known to impact iron homeostasis
* Non-pregnant subjects: underlying malabsorption diseases or other diagnosed medical problems known to impact iron homeostasis.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Married women of reproductive age identified as a new pregnancy using a urine test

Exclusion Criteria:

* Menopausal or sterilized woman or currently already pregnant or breastfeeding an infant \<9 months of age
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant women delivering at study site hospital

Exclusion Criteria:

* Delivery by Cesarean section
* Pregnancy ≤ 36 or ≥ 42 weeks gestation
* Multiple gestation
* Diagnosis of any of the following in the current pregnancy: hemorrhage requiring clinic/hospital admission, placental abnormalities, fetal anomalies, Down's syndrome of the fetus
* Diagnosis of pre-eclampsia or eclampsia in current or previous pregnancies
* Diagnosis at any time for the mother of any of the following: Diabetes, hypertension, cardiopathies, chronic renal disease
* Infant with major congenital malformation
* Infant birth weight less than 2500 g
* Mother not planning to breast feed for at least 6 months
* Mother smoked during current pregnancy
* Unwilling to return for follow-up study visits at the hospital
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Healthy pregnant women between 18 and 45 years of age in the second or third trimester of pregnancy (24-32 weeks of gestational age).
* Normal Hb (Hb≥110g/L and Hb≤144g/L)

Exclusion Criteria:

Chronic illness (clinically significant neurological, endocrine, cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, immunologic, psychiatric or metabolic diseases)

* A history or presence of hemosiderosis, hemochromatosis, peptic ulcer, regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis
* A history of or current use of IV iron therapy or erythropoietin therapy
* A history or presence of any clinically significant gastrointestinal pathology (eg. chronic diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, partial gastrectomy), unresolved gastrointestinal symptoms (eg. diarrhea or vomiting), steatorrhea, or other conditions known to interfere with the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of iron or folic acid
* Abnormal hemoglobin electrophoresis ie. sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, etc.
* Current acute illness and/or taking antibiotics
* Known or suspected allergies to Materna®, or any ingredient present in Materna or SuppleFem Sprinkles or any of the foods to be consumed during the trial.
* Mildly to severely anemic women (Hb\<110 g/L) or elevated hemoglobin (above 144g/L)
* Complications in pregnancy (including pregnancy induced hypertension, preeclampsia, a history of severe antepartum hemorrhage)
* Blood transfusion within last 3 months

Answer: A