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A recent paper (Gestational diabetes mellitus in the last trimester - a feature of maternal iron excess?, Lao, Chan and Tam, Diabetic Medicine, 18, 218-223, 2001) has shown that, contrary to what might be expected, serum ferritin, iron, transferrin saturation and postnatal haemoglobin were higher in gestational diabetes patients compated with a parity matched control group. On multiple regression analysis log-transformed ferritin remained significant determinants of the OGTT 2Hr glucose value. The question posed by the study was whether routine iron supplementation in non-anaemic women at risk of GDM was appropriate when it has not been shown to be of any fetal benefit and could be harmful This study assumes that these biochemical markers are accurately reflecting increased iron stores in the gestational diabetes group. However other workers have claimed that biochemical markers are not good markers of body iron stores in pregnancy. I would be interested to hear from other mailbase users regarding the evidence to support or refute the use of biochemical markers as an accurate ndex of body iron stores in pregnancy, and which if any is the prefered marker. The study also showed that the incidence of male infants was significantly lower in the gestational diabetes group (39.1% v 52.6%, P=0.033). Does anyone else have data on this or can explain why there might be such a significant difference? Gary Firth Princess Royal Hospital Sussex UK