Antenatal iron supplements consumed daily produce oxidative stress in contrast to weekly supplementation in Mexican non-anemic women.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether recommended daily or weekly iron supplementation in non-anemic pregnant women produces oxidative stress.
Results Summary
Daily supplementation increased oxidative stress markers (TBARS) and led to excessively elevated hemoglobin and iron parameters, while weekly supplementation prevented significant anemia and reduced oxidative stress. Both schemes prevented anemia, but weekly supplementation appeared safer.
Population
Non-anemic pregnant women, 30% of whom were iron-deficient at week 20.
Effective Dosage
Daily (60-120mg iron + 0.4mg folic acid) or weekly (120mg iron + varying folic acid).
Duration
8 weeks per supplementation scheme (daily followed by weekly or vice versa).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Universal prenatal daily supplementation with iron (60-120mg iron) plus folic acid (0.4mg) | decrease | anemia | where iron deficiency is prevalent | - | prevents anemia | #1 |
Universal prenatal daily supplementation with iron (60-120mg iron) plus folic acid (0.4mg) | neutral | - | non-anemic women | - | may be excessive | #2 |
Weekly supplementation with 120mg iron plus various amounts of folic acid | decrease | significant anemia | - | - | similarly prevents significant anemia | #3 |
daily supplementation | increase | thio-barbituric-acid-reacting-substances (TBARS) | non-anemic pregnant women | - | thio-barbituric-acid-reacting-substances (TBARS) increased significantly | #4 |
daily supplementation | increase | serum ferritin | non-anemic pregnant women | - | high serum ferritin occurred | #5 |
daily supplementation | increase | iron | non-anemic pregnant women | - | high iron occurred | #6 |
daily supplementation | increase | hemoglobin | non-anemic pregnant women | - | excessively elevated hemoglobin occurred | #7 |
weekly supplementation | decrease | significant anemia | non-anemic pregnant women | - | significant anemia was prevented | #8 |
weekly supplementation | decrease | high iron parameters | non-anemic pregnant women | - | high iron parameters were prevented | #9 |
weekly supplementation | decrease | TBARS | non-anemic pregnant women | - | elevated TBARS declined | #10 |
both schemes | decrease | significant anemia | non-anemic pregnant women | - | prevented significant anemia | #11 |
daily supplementation | increase | Oxidative stress | non-anemic pregnant women | - | Oxidative stress occurred | #12 |
Weekly supplementation | neutral | - | non-anemic pregnant women | - | appears safer | #13 |
UNLABELLED: Universal prenatal daily supplementation with iron (60-120mg iron) plus folic acid (0.4mg), as recommended by INACG/WHO/UNICEF, prevents anemia where iron deficiency is prevalent but may be excessive for non-anemic women. Weekly supplementation with 120mg iron plus various amounts of folic acid similarly prevents significant anemia. OBJECTIVE: Determine, in non-anemic pregnant women, if oxidative stress is produced by recommended daily or weekly supplementation schemes. PROCEDURE: 100 non-anemic pregnant women, 30% iron-deficient at week 20, were randomly supplemented daily followed by weekly, each for 8 weeks, or in reversed order. RESULTS: With daily supplementation thio-barbituric-acid-reacting-substances (TBARS) increased significantly and high serum ferritin, iron, and excessively elevated hemoglobin occurred near term. During weekly supplementation significant anemia and high iron parameters were prevented, and elevated TBARS declined. CONCLUSION: In non-anemic pregnant women both schemes prevented significant anemia. Oxidative stress occurred only during daily supplementation periods. Weekly supplementation appears safer.