Urine hepcidin and iron regulation in preterm infants

Background: Iron deficiency during critical windows of brain development leads to irreversible neurodevelopmental delays. To limit this risk, iron supplementation in preterm infants is recommended, however concern persists regarding the risk of pro-oxidant injury with supplementation. It is unclear whether extremely low gestational age newborns (ELGANs) are able to regulate their iron status through hepcidin, the primary regulator of iron status in adults. Objective: Assess the role of urine hepcidin (Uhep) as a regulator of iron status …