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Effects of routine oral iron supplementation with or without folic acid during pregnancy: an updated systematic review
Author(s) -
PenaRosas Juan Pablo,
Viteri Fernando E.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.1086.1
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , anemia , childbirth , obstetrics , randomized controlled trial , iron deficiency , pediatrics , iron supplement , iron deficiency anemia , folic acid , iron supplementation , meta analysis , genetics , biology
Routine antenatal iron (Fe) or iron and folic acid (FeFol) supplementation may improve maternal health and pregnancy outcomes. This review assesses the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of routine daily (D) or intermittent (I) supplementation. The Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (October 2007) was searched and relevant organizations were contacted for identification of additional trials. All randomized trials evaluating the effect of routine antenatal D or I Fe or FeFol were selected considering their methodological quality. Primary outcomes included maternal and infant clinical and laboratory outcomes. Forty‐nine trials, involving 19147 women, were included. The data suggest improved Hb and Fe nutrition compared to non supplemented women. There are no significant differences between D and I in any specific variables except for higher rate of hemoconcentration during 2–3 trimesters in D than in I, and also higher side‐effects in D, except for vomiting that is more common in I. D Fe and FeFol results in slightly higher maternal Hb at term. Iron deficiency and its anemia at term were slightly less likely to occur in women on D Fe than in non supplemented women. Further studies are needed to assess the effects of pre‐conceptional iron and folate status and antenatal Fe or FeFol doses administered either D or I with emphasis on functional and perinatal outcomes.