Summary
This prospective randomised controlled trial in 300 healthy pregnant women at 20 weeks gestation compared daily (600 mg ferrous sulphate) versus twice-weekly (600 mg ferrous sulphate) oral iron supplementation on haematologic indices and fetal outcomes. The study found no significant differences in pre- and post-intervention haemoglobin levels between groups, nor in birth weights or Apgar scores, suggesting twice-weekly supplementation may be as effective as daily dosing whilst potentially improving adherence.
Regional applicability
This study was conducted in Nigeria and involved healthy pregnant women without baseline anaemia. The findings may have relevance to UK antenatal practice, particularly regarding adherence to iron supplementation regimens, though the UK population typically has better baseline nutritional status and access to healthcare. Transfer of findings should consider differences in baseline anaemia prevalence and iron status between populations.
Key measures
Haemoglobin levels, serum iron indices, birth weight, Apgar scores
Outcomes reported
The study measured haemoglobin and serum iron indices before and after supplementation, and compared birth weights and Apgar scores between daily and twice-weekly iron supplementation groups. No significant differences in haematologic outcomes or fetal outcomes were observed between the two dosing regimens.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Ask about this record, its theme or its relevance to UK farming and policy. Pulse AI uses selected catalogue evidence and cites the sources it draws on.