Effect of different doses of iron supplementation during pregnancy on maternal and infant health.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of different iron supplementation doses during pregnancy on maternal iron status and neonatal health.
Results Summary
Iron supplementation reduced the decline in hemoglobin and serum ferritin, lowered rates of iron depletion and iron deficiency anemia, and decreased preterm deliveries while increasing newborn birth weight. However, high supplementation (>100 mg/day) increased the risk of maternal haemoconcentration.
Population
358 pregnant Mediterranean women with initial iron stores close to deficit.
Effective Dosage
Non-supplemented, low (<60 mg/day), moderate (60-100 mg/day), and high (>100 mg/day) iron supplementation.
Duration
Throughout pregnancy (first, second, third trimesters, and at partum).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iron supplementation | decrease | serum ferritin (SF) | iron-supplemented groups | - | decreased less sharply | #1 |
iron supplementation | decrease | haemoglobin (Hb) | iron-supplemented groups | - | decreased less sharply | #2 |
higher doses of iron supplementation | decrease | iron depletion at partum | - | - | lower the percentages | #3 |
higher doses of iron supplementation | decrease | iron deficiency anaemia | - | - | lower the percentages | #4 |
higher doses of iron supplementation | decrease | preterm deliveries | - | - | lower the percentages | #5 |
higher doses of iron supplementation | increase | birth weight of the newborn | - | - | higher | #6 |
high supplementation | increase | women at risk of haemoconcentration at partum | - | 27.6 % | had a greater percentage | #7 |
supplementation with iron at daily doses of between 60 and 100 mg | neutral | health of mother and child | Mediterranean women with iron stores close to deficit | - | appears to be the most beneficial | #8 |
Currently, there is no consensus regarding the optimum iron supplementation during pregnancy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of different iron supplementation doses (including no supplementation) during pregnancy on the iron status of the mother and on the health of the neonate. A longitudinal study was conducted involving 358 pregnant women and their newborns. Mothers were classified as non-supplemented, low iron supplemented (<60 mg/day), moderate iron supplemented (between 60 and 100 mg/day) or high iron supplemented (>100 mg/day). General clinical and obstetric histories, haemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF) and transferrin saturation were evaluated in the first, second, third trimesters, and at partum. SF and Hb decreased less sharply in the iron-supplemented groups compared to the non-supplemented group. The higher the doses of iron supplementation, the lower the percentages of iron depletion at partum (p < 0.001), iron deficiency anaemia (p < 0.001) and preterm deliveries (p = 0.009) as well as a higher birth weight of the newborn. However, the group with high supplementation had a greater percentage (27.6 %) of women at risk of haemoconcentration at partum. Our Mediterranean women began gestation with iron stores close to deficit (SF, 28.1 μg/L; 95 % CI 27.9-28.4). With these iron stores, supplementation with iron at daily doses of between 60 and 100 mg appears to be the most beneficial for the health of mother and child. These findings need to be confirmed in further randomised clinical trials.