Serum Hepcidin in Pregnant Women and the Association With Pregnancy Outcome

Hepcidin production is normally upregulated by iron stores, and in obesity has been shown to be overexpressed and correlated with low iron status. The increased hepcidin may restrain the iron release from the cells by affecting the expression of ferroportin, which probably associates with the development of diabetes complication. Firstly, investigator examines the difference of serum hepcidin and iron parameters between obese and non-obese pregnant women; secondly, the correlation between serum hepcidin and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women will be tested.