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 .
Relative bioavailability of iron and folic acid from a new powdered supplement compared to a traditional tablet in pregnant women
Background Deficiencies of iron and folic acid during pregnancy can lead to adverse outcomes for the fetus , thus supplements are recommended . Adherence to current tablet-based supplements is documented to be poor . Recently a powdered form of micronutrients has been developed which may decrease side-effects and thus improve adherence . However , before testing the efficacy of the supplement as an alternate choice for supplementation during pregnancy , the bioavailability of the iron needs to be determined . Our objective was to measure the relative bioavailability of iron and folic acid from a powdered supplement that can be sprinkled on semi-solid foods or beverages versus a traditional tablet supplement in pregnant women . Methods Eighteen healthy pregnant women ( 24 – 32 weeks gestation ) were r and omized to receive the supplements in a crossover design . Following ingestion of each supplement , the changes ( over baseline ) in serum iron and folate over 8 hours were determined . The powdered supplement contained 30 mg of iron as micronized dispersible ferric pyrophosphate with an emulsifier coating and 600 μg folic acid ; the tablet contained 27 mg iron from ferrous fumarate and 1000 μg folic acid . Results Overall absorption of iron from the powdered supplement was significantly lower than the tablet ( p = 0.003 ) . There was no difference in the overall absorption of folic acid between supplements . Based on the differences in the area under the curve and doses , the relative bioavailability of iron from powdered supplement was lower than from the tablet ( 0.22 ) . Conclusion The unexpected lower bioavailability of iron from the powdered supplement is contrary to previously published reports . However , since pills and capsules are known to be poorly accepted by some women during pregnancy , it is reasonable to continue to explore alternative micronutrient delivery systems and forms of iron for this purpose .Trial Registration Clinical Trials.gov
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 .