Systematic review of randomized trials of the effect of iron supplementation on iron stores and oxygen carrying capacity in pregnancy.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the effect of iron supplementation on serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels in pregnant women with anemic and non-anemic iron deficiency.
Results Summary
Iron supplementation led to more statistically significant increases in serum ferritin levels than hemoglobin levels, particularly with intravenous iron for anemic deficiency and oral supplementation for non-anemic deficiency. Clinical effects of these changes require further investigation.
Population
Pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia or non-anemic iron deficiency.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
intravenous iron supplementation | increase | serum ferritin levels | pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia | - | statistically significant increases | #1 |
intravenous iron supplementation | increase | hemoglobin levels | pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia | - | statistically significant increases | #2 |
oral iron supplementation | increase | serum ferritin levels | pregnant women with non-anemic iron deficiency | - | statistically significant increases | #3 |
oral iron supplementation | increase | hemoglobin levels | pregnant women with non-anemic iron deficiency | - | statistically significant increases | #4 |
iron supplementation | increase | serum ferritin | - | - | appears to change more | #5 |
iron supplementation | increase | hemoglobin | - | - | appears to change more | #6 |
INTRODUCTION: Anemia in pregnancy affects 25% of all pregnancies in Europe with iron deficiency affecting even more. Despite supplementation, iron deficiency persists. This review will assess the effect on serum ferritin (iron stores) and hemoglobin (oxygen-carrying capacity) following iron supplementation in pregnant women with anemic and non-anemic iron deficiency. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systemic search of electronic databases and trial registers was conducted from inception to January 2014. Randomized controlled trials of iron supplementation that measured serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels before and after supplementation were selected. Two independent reviewers selected studies, extracted data and assessed quality. Descriptive analyses were carried out. RESULTS: The review included 23 randomized controlled trials (3525 women). In iron deficiency anemia, more studies described statistically significant increases in serum ferritin levels than in hemoglobin levels following intravenous iron supplementation. In non-anemic iron deficiency there were more statistically significant increases in serum ferritin levels than in hemoglobin levels following oral supplementation. There were no studies reporting maternal quality of life outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Serum ferritin appears to change more than hemoglobin following iron supplementation. The clinical effects of this need further investigation.