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Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research

Iron and Reduced Maternal Anemia

Safety in these studies
  • adverse effectsIncreased riskRR 1.29 (95% CI 0.83 to 2.02)

    The evidence is very uncertain for adverse effects (21.6% versus 18.0%; RR 1.29, 95% CI 0.83 to 2.02; 12 trials, 2423 women; very low-certainty evidence)

    from: Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.
  • severe anaemiaIncreased riskSerious adverse eventRR 0.22 (95% CI 0.01 to 3.20)

    The evidence is very uncertain for ... severe anaemia (Hb < 70 g/L) in the second/third trimester (< 1% versus 3.6%; RR 0.22, 95% CI 0.01 to 3.20; 8 trials, 1398 women; very low-certainty evidence)

    from: Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.
  • congenital anomaliesNo significant differenceSerious adverse eventRR 0.88 (95% CI 0.58 to 1.33)

    There may be little to no difference in ... congenital anomalies, including neural tube defects (41 versus 48 events; RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.33; 4 trials, 14,377 infants; low-certainty evidence)

    from: Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.
  • maternal deathNo significant differenceSerious adverse eventRR 0.57 (95% CI 0.12 to 2.69)

    There is probably little to no difference in maternal death (2 versus 4 events, RR 0.57, 95% CI 0.12 to 2.69; 3 trials, 14,060 women; moderate-certainty evidence)

    from: Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.
  • neonatal deathNo significant differenceSerious adverse eventRR 0.98 (95% CI 0.77 to 1.24)

    There may be little to no difference in neonatal death (1.4% versus 1.5%, RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.24; 4 trials, 17,243 infants; low-certainty evidence)

    from: Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.
  • clinical malariaReported

    No trials reported clinical malaria or infection during pregnancy.

    from: Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.
1 of 1 paper
  • Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.

    • 2024-08-15
    • Meta-Analysis · n = 2,873
    • The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2024(8)
      • Julia L Finkelstein
      • Anna Cuthbert
      • Jo Weeks
      • Sudha Venkatramanan
      • Doreen Y Larvie
      • Luz Maria De-Regil
      • Maria Nieves Garcia-Casal
    • High evidence
    • Pregnant Women

    Daily oral supplementation with iron + folic acid probably reduces maternal anaemia at term (12.1% versus 25.5%; RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.64; 4 trials, 1962 women; moderate-certainty evidence)

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Large
    Significant
    Yes
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