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, anemia, and birth weight: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND The need for prophylactic iron during pregnancy is uncertain . OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that administration of a daily iron supplement from enrollment to 28 wk of gestation to initially iron-replete , nonanemic pregnant women would reduce the prevalence of anemia at 28 wk and increase birth weight . DESIGN Between June 1995 and September 1998 , 513 low-income pregnant women in Clevel and were enrolled in the study before 20 wk of gestation . Of these , 275 had a hemoglobin concentration > /= 110 g/L and a ferritin concentration > /= 20 micro g/L and were r and omly assigned to receive a monthly supply of capsules containing either 30 mg Fe as ferrous sulfate or placebo until 28 wk of gestation . At 28 and 38 wk of gestation , women with a ferritin concentration of 12 to < 20 micro g/L or < 12 micro g/L received 30 and 60 mg Fe/d , respectively , regardless of initial assignment . Almost all the women received some supplemental iron during pregnancy . We obtained infant birth weight and gestational age at delivery for 117 and 96 of the 146 and 129 women r and omly assigned to receive iron and placebo , respectively . RESULTS Compared with placebo , iron supplementation from enrollment to 28 wk of gestation did not significantly affect the overall prevalence of anemia or the incidence of preterm births but led to a significantly higher mean ( + /- SD ) birth weight ( 206 + /- 565 g ; P = 0.010 ) , a significantly lower incidence of low-birth-weight infants ( 4 % compared with 17 % ; P = 0.003 ) , and a significantly lower incidence of preterm low-birth-weight infants ( 3 % compared with 10 % ; P = 0.017 ) . CONCLUSION Prenatal prophylactic iron supplementation deserves further examination as a measure to improve birth weight and potentially reduce health care costs
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 .