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 .
A randomized comparison of routine versus selective iron supplementation during pregnancy.
This trial compares routine and selective iron supplementation  during pregnancy to determine whether routine supplementation adversely affects fetal growth , increases infections and subjective adverse effects , and /or delays birth . At their first prenatal visit , 2912 pregnant women were r and omized into two groups ( 2694 gave birth ) . Compliance was satisfactory as measured by self-reports by mothers and hematocrit values in the third trimester . More women in the routinely supplemented group had subjected adverse effects . The groups were similar in regard to most of the other outcomes . In the selectively supplemented group , there was weak evidence for increase in sick-days , referrals to hospital outpatient clinic , cesarean section , blood transfusions , and infants who were diagnosed as having hyperviscosity . In the routine group , there were somewhat more women with gestations greater than or equal to 41 weeks and more dead infants . The subgroup analyses suggest that some of the apparently worse outcomes in the selective group were due to reactions of midwives and physicians to low hematocrit values
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 .