Iron deficiency is the most common form of nutritional deficiency in the world. Among different sex and age groups of population pregnant women and infants seems to be in higher risk to develope iron deficiency. According to recent data about half of the pregnant women suffer from iron deficiency.

In order ot investigate the prevalance of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women, the level of Hb, Mev, serum ferritin and the percentage of transferrin saturation measured in 417 pregnant women and cord blood of their newborns in eight university hospitals in Tehran. 34.8% of pregnant women showed to have iron defeciency and 12.2% iron defeciency anemia. Only one newborn (0.2%) has iron deficiency. The mean Hb concentration in newborns of anemic mothers was significantly lower than those who were borned from normal mothers (p<0.02)

This study indicate that the prevalance of iron deficiency in present population was less than the previously published results both in Iran and neighbouring countries. This trend of improvement could be the result of Iron supplement administration to pregnant women which practiced more regularly in recent years.