Sensitivity analyses and meta-regression for hemoglobin suggested a higher response with lower trial quality ( suboptimal allocation concealment and blinding ) , use of condiments , and sodium iron edetate and a lower response when adults were included .
Consumption of iron-fortified foods results in an improvement in hemoglobin , serum ferritin , and iron nutriture and a reduced risk of remaining anemic and iron deficient
BACKGROUND The utility of iron fortification of food to improve iron deficiency , anemia , and biological outcomes is not proven unequivocally .
A randomized trial investigating an iron-rich natural mineral water as a prophylaxis against iron deficiency in pregnancy.
Spatone Iron-Plus is a naturally occurring mineral water from Trefriw Wells Spa in Conwy County , North Wales , UK . It contains approximately 0.20 mg of iron per millilitre as ferrous sulphate and has been shown to provide iron in a highly bio-available form . A 24 ml sachet contains approximately 5 mg of iron . Iron deficiency is common in the obstetric population . However , compliance with traditional iron supplements is poor because of gastrointestinal side-effects . We design ed a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial . A total of 102 low-risk antenatal patients , who were noncompliant with routinely prescribed ferrous sulphate tablets  , were r and omized to receive 48 ml of Spatone water or placebo . The study was conducted between 22 and 28 weeks gestation . Primary outcome measures were compliance , gastrointestinal side-effects and changes in ferritin levels during the trial period . Compliance in the intervention group was 57 % compared with 67 % in the control group , P = 0.22 . Dyspepsia scores , as determined by a recognized and well-vali date d question naire , did not differ between the two groups . During the trial period , mean ferritin levels fell by 24 % in the Spatone Iron-Plus group compared with a mean fall of 51 % in ferritin levels among the control group , P = 0.016
Sensitivity analyses and meta-regression for hemoglobin suggested a higher response with lower trial quality ( suboptimal allocation concealment and blinding ) , use of condiments , and sodium iron edetate and a lower response when adults were included .
Consumption of iron-fortified foods results in an improvement in hemoglobin , serum ferritin , and iron nutriture and a reduced risk of remaining anemic and iron deficient
BACKGROUND The utility of iron fortification of food to improve iron deficiency , anemia , and biological outcomes is not proven unequivocally .