Association between maternal iron deficiency and delayed neonatal auditory maturation and altered cochlear synaptic energy metabolism: analysis from a mother–infant observational study, mouse models, and cochlear explants

Background Iron is a key nutrient for the development of the fetal auditory system. However, the potential impact of non-anemic prenatal iron deficiency (ID) on neonatal auditory function remains unclear. This study aimed to systematically explore the potential mechanisms by which maternal ID may affect auditory maturation of offspring. Methods We analyzed population data from 696 mother–infant pairs, established ID mouse models (C57BL/6 J) during pregnancy, and conducted cellular experiments. R