Conclusion Applying the CHERG rules , we recommend a 73 % reduction in anemia at term with daily iron ( alone ) supplementation or iron/folate ( combined ) vs. no intervention or placebo ; for inclusion in the LiST model .
Introduction Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutrient deficiency in the world , particularly during pregnancy .
According to the literature , anemia , particularly severe anemia , is associated with increased risk of maternal mortality .
It also puts mothers at risk of multiple perinatal complications .
Numerous studies in the past have evaluated the impact of supplementation with iron and iron-folate but data regarding the efficacy and quality of evidence of these interventions are lacking .
This article aims to address the impact of iron with and without folate supplementation on maternal anemia and provides outcome specific quality according to the Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group ( CHERG ) guidelines .
[Effect of iron supplementation and its frequency during pregnancy].
The iron ( Fe ) nutritional status of 203 healthy pregnant women was assessed at the first prenatal visit ( To ) ( gestational age : 16.9 weeks + /- 3.81 . Women were r and omly assigned to one of three groups : G1 and G2 were supplemented with ferrous fumarate ( 60 mg elemental Fe ) daily or intermittently ( three times a week ) , respectively ; and GC was the control group , without supplementation . The follow up was carried out until 34 - 37 weeks of gestational age ( Tf ) , but only 43 % of pregnant women completed the trial . At To and Tf fasting blood sample s were collected and Hematocrit ( Hct ) , Hemoglobin ( Hb ) , Erythrocyte Protoporphyrin ( EP ) and Serum Ferritin ( FERR ) were determined . The percentage of women with abnormal biochemical values at To ( n = 203 ) was : Hb ( g/dl ) < 10.5 : 2.6 % ; PE ( microgram/dl of red blood cells ) > 70 : 4.8 % ; FERR ( ng/ml ) < 10 : 4.4 % . Results ( X + /- DE ) of women that completed the follow up were at To and Tf , respectively : Hct ( % ) : GC : 37.7 + /- 3.4 and 36.0 + /- 3.2 ( p < 0.05 ) ; G1 : 38.8 + /- 2.2 and 38.0 + /- 2.6 ; G2 : 39.0 + /- 2.7 and 37.7 + /- 3.7 ; Hb ( g/dl ) : GC : 12.5 + /- 1.2 and 11.9 + /- 1.3 ( p < 0.05 ) ; G1 : 12.6 + /- 1.1 and 12.8 + /- 1.1 ; G2 : 12.9 + /- 0.9 and 12.2 + /- 1.5 ; PE ( microgram/dl red blood cells ) : GC : 30 + /- 17 and 43 + /- 22 ( p < 0.01 ) ; G1 : 26 + /- 13 and 38 + /- 21 ( p < 0.01 ) ; G2 : 26 + /- 16 and 31 + /- 26 ; FERR ( ng/ml ) : GC : 75 + /- 67 and 31 + /- 49 ( p < 0.01 ) ; G1 : 46 + /- 34 and 19 + /- 10 ( p < 0.01 ) ; G2 : 43 + /- 11 and 11 + /- 7 ( p < 0.01 ) . These results show : a ) Fe administration was efficient to mitigate Hb decrease ; b ) Fe stores decreased during pregnancy regardless of Fe supplementation and frequency ; c ) EP values indicate that intermittent Fe administration was more efficient to maintain normal erythropoiesis
Conclusion Applying the CHERG rules , we recommend a 73 % reduction in anemia at term with daily iron ( alone ) supplementation or iron/folate ( combined ) vs. no intervention or placebo ; for inclusion in the LiST model .
Introduction Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutrient deficiency in the world , particularly during pregnancy .
According to the literature , anemia , particularly severe anemia , is associated with increased risk of maternal mortality .
It also puts mothers at risk of multiple perinatal complications .
Numerous studies in the past have evaluated the impact of supplementation with iron and iron-folate but data regarding the efficacy and quality of evidence of these interventions are lacking .
This article aims to address the impact of iron with and without folate supplementation on maternal anemia and provides outcome specific quality according to the Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group ( CHERG ) guidelines .