The effect of feeding a low iron diet prior to and during gestation on fetal and maternal iron homeostasis in two strains of rat

Table 1 Pregnancy outcomes

	RHL		Wistar
	Control	Low iron	Control	Low iron
	n=11	n=8	n=10	n=10
Maternal body weight at mating (g)	204.4 ± 3.7^b	203.0 ± 3.5^b	224.2 ± 4.3^a	225.7 ± 6.1^a
Pregnancy weight gain (g)	146.0 ± 5.2^a	136.7 ± 5.8^a	107.9 ± 4.7^b	106.2 ± 4.9^b
Litter size	13.2 ± 0.8	13.6 ± 1.2	11.2 ± 0.7	12.0 ± 0.9
Mean fetal weight (g)	4.7 ± 0.1^a	4.0 ± 0.2^b	4.5 ± 0.1^a	4.6 ± 0.1^a
Mean placental weight (g)	0.51 ± 0.01^a	0.55 ± 0.04^a	0.48 ± 0.04^b	0.43 ± 0.02^b

Pregnancy weight gain, litter size and fetal and placental weights in Rowett Hooded Lister (RHL) and Wistar rats exposed to a control or low iron diet prior to and during pregnancy. Data are presented as means ± s.e.m. (a>b, P<0.05).

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