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 .
Iron supplementation during pregnancy. Effect on iron status markers, serum erythropoietin and human placental lactogen. A placebo controlled study in 207 Danish women.
The effect of iron supplementation , 66 mg elemental iron daily , from the 16th week of gestation to delivery , on iron status markers during uncomplicated pregnancies was assessed in a r and omised , double-blind , placebo controlled study of 207 healthy women ( 100 iron treated , 107 placebo treated ) and their newborn babies .  Haemoglobin ( Hb ) and serum ( S- ) human placental lactogen ( HPL ) were measured in all 207 females , while transferrin saturation , S-ferritin and S-erythropoietin ( EPO ) were measured in 120 females at monthly intervals . Hb : from 27th week of gestation to eight weeks post partum , the placebo treated group had significantly lower Hb levels than the iron treated group ( p less than 0.001 ) . Iron status markers : in the placebo group ( n = 57 ) , 92 % developed exhausted iron stores ( i.e. S-ferritin less than or equal to 20 micrograms/l ) , 65 % latent iron deficiency ( i.e. S-ferritin less than or equal to 20 micrograms/l and transferrin saturation less than 15 % ) , and 18 % iron deficiency anaemia ( i.e. S-ferritin less than or equal to 20 micrograms/l , transferrin saturation less than 15 % and Hb less than 110 g/l ) . In the iron treated group ( n = 63 ) , 54 % developed exhausted iron stores , 6 % latent iron deficiency , and none iron deficiency anaemia . S-EPO : the placebo group had significantly higher values than the iron treated group from the 27th week of gestation to one week post partum ( p less than 0.01 ) . S-HPL : levels were identical in placebo and iron treated females . Babies of iron treated mothers had higher S-ferritin than babies of placebo treated mothers ( p less than 0.02 ) . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS
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 .