Safety and Efficacy of Antenatal Iron Supplementation in a Malaria-endemic Area in Kenya: A Randomised Trial.

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dc.contributor.authorMwangi, Martin N
dc.contributor.authorRoth, Johanna M
dc.contributor.authorSmit, Menno
dc.contributor.authorTrijsburg, Laura
dc.contributor.authorDemir, Ayşe Y
dc.contributor.authorMens, Petra
dc.contributor.authorPrentice, Andrew M
dc.contributor.authorAndang’o, Pauline E A
dc.contributor.authorVerhoef, Hans
dc.date.accessioned2015-10-30T11:15:48Z
dc.date.available2015-10-30T11:15:48Z
dc.date.issued2015
dc.description.abstractObjectives: Whereas coverage of antenatal iron supplementation is low and benefits are uncertain, there are concerns that it can increase the burden of malaria, with potentially devastating effects on maternal and neonatal health outcomes. We aimed to measure the effect of iron supplementation during pregnancy on maternal Plasmodium infection assessed at delivery, birth weight, gestational age, fetal growth and maternal and infant iron status. Methods: Rural Kenyan women (n=470) with singleton pregnancies, gestational age 13─23 weeks and haemoglobin concentration ≥ 90 g/L were randomised to supervised daily supplementation with iron (60 mg as ferrous fumarate) or placebo until 1 month postpartum. To prevent severe anaemia, all women additionally received 5.7 mg iron/day through flour fortification. Intermittent preventive treatment against malaria was given as usual. Plasmodium infection was assessed at birth by dipstick tests, PCR and histological examination of placental biopsies. Results: There was no evident effect on Plasmodium infection (both intervention groups: 45%; difference, 95% CI: 0%, ─9% to 9%). Iron supplementation increased birth weight by 143g (95% CI: 58─228g) and reduced the prevalence of low birth weight (<2,500g) by 65% (95% CI: 13%─86%). The effect on birth weight was larger in women who were initially iron-deficient than in those who were iron-replete (250 g versus ─13 g; p-interaction=0.008), and the improved birth weight seemed achieved mostly through improved fetal growth. Iron supplementation resulted in improved maternal iron status at 1 month postpartum, and improved infant iron stores. Conclusions: Coverage of universal antenatal iron supplementation must be increased.en_US
dc.identifier.citationMwangi Martin N, Roth Johanna M, Smit Menno, Trijsburg Laura, Mwangi Alice, Demir Ayşe Y, Mens Petra, Prentice Andrew M, Andang’o Pauline E A, Verhoef Hans. Safety and Efficacy of Antenatal Iron Supplementation in a Malaria-endemic Area in Kenya: A Randomised Trial. European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety. 2015 Special issue; 5(5): 627-628.en_US
dc.identifier.issn2347-5641
dc.identifier.urihttps://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/164890
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.source.urihttps://sciencedomain.org/abstract/10822en_US
dc.titleSafety and Efficacy of Antenatal Iron Supplementation in a Malaria-endemic Area in Kenya: A Randomised Trial.en_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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