International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 12, Issue 12, December 2022 323 ISSN 2250-3153 This publication is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY. http://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.12.12.2022.p13237 www.ijsrp.org Significance Of Ferritin In Pregnancy Associated Iron Deficiency Anemia, GDM And Other Complications Saritha Mary Thomas 1 , Abin Varghese 2 1 Research Scholar, Allied Health Sciences, Srinivas University Mangalore, India 2 Research Scholar, Allied Health Sciences, Srinivas University Mangalore, India DOI: 10.29322/IJSRP.12.12.2022.p13237 http://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.12.12.2022.p13237 Paper Received Date: 5 th November 2022 Paper Acceptance Date: 5 th December 2022 Paper Publication Date: 20 th December 2022 Abstract- Purpose: Analysis of ferritin is very important in pregnancy for predicting risk factors such as GDM, IDA, preeclampsia, preterm delivery, childbirth weight, and other pregnancy-related complications. The only commonly used laboratory test for determining iron reserves is the determination of serum ferritin concentration. As a result, the complications associated with ferritin is caused by an increase or decrease in body iron stores. Methodology: The review is intended to look into the impact of ferritin in pregnancy. Sources of data and study selection: Relevant articles were chosen through a database search on Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. The journal papers were chosen from the years 2015 to 2022, with the majority falling between 2017 and 2022. Excludes papers published before 2015 and reviewed only full- text articles. Findings: We investigated the bond between serum ferritin levels and pregnancy-related complications in this systematic review. We discovered that high maternal serum ferritin levels play an important role in the occurrence of GDM. We've also discovered that ferritin in gestating women can be implicated as a marker for preeclampsia, preterm birth, and decreased ferritin levels are related with IDA and low birth weight. We also discovered some negative correlations. As a result, more research is needed to establish this relationship and identify vulnerable populations. Paper Type: Systematic Review Paper. Index Terms- Ferritin, Iron stores, Pregnancy, Iron deficiency, Gestational diabetes, Preeclampsia I. INTRODUCTION ERRITIN Ferritin is an intracellular protein that surrounds the nucleus. It stores iron, a nutrient that is necessary for the production of healthy red blood cells and the distribution of oxygen throughout the body. When the body uses iron, a small amount of ferritin is released from cells and circulates in the blood. Ferritin level reflects the total iron stored in the body. Without inflammation, ferritin concentrations are positively correlated with the storage form of iron in the body. Low serum ferritin levels show that these stores have been depleted, resulting in iron deficiency. IRON DEFICIENCY In both developed and developing countries, iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder among pregnant women. Iron deficiency affects approximately 41.8% of pregnant women, according to UNICEF (1998). [1] Iron is required for all cellular functions, such as oxygen transportation, electron transport, and enzyme activity. Cells with high metabolic rates require more iron and become more dysfunctional when there are insufficient iron stores. [2] Iron deficiency ranges from iron depletion to iron deficiency anemia. The amount of stored iron (as measured by serum ferritin) is reduced in iron deficiency, but the amount of transportable and functional iron may not be affected. People who are iron deficient do not have iron stores to call on when their bodies require more iron. Stored iron is depleted, and transport is impaired in iron-deficient erythropoiesis. The definition given to anemia in pregnancy by WHO as a hemoglobin concentration <110 g/l (WHO, 20 01) [3] Diagnosis of iron deficiency Clinical symptoms and signs Laboratory tests Full blood count, blood film and red cell indices. Serum ferritin Serum iron (Fe) and total iron binding capacity (TIBC). Zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR Reticulocyte hemoglobin content and reticulocytes Bone marrow iron Trial of iron therapy. It is established that iron deficiency affects several bodily functions, including physical and mental performance, enzymatic functions (eg, the respiratory chain), thermoregulation, muscle function, immune response, and neurological function. Only some of these potential effects have been reported and specifically F