PROPHYLACTIC TRIAL OF IRON AND FOLIC-ACID SUPPLEMENTS IN PREGNANT BURMESE WOMEN

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 12  (12) , 1410-1417
Abstract
Hb concentration, serum Fe level, Fe binding capacity and blood folate (Lactobacillus casei) activity were determined in 310 unselected pregnant Burmese women. Hb concentration was less than 11 g/dl in 72% of the women; the serum Fe level was less than 50 .mu.g/dl in 33%; serum folate activity was less than 3 ng/ml in 13%; and red cell folate activity was less than 100 ng/ml in 17% of the women. Ninety-six of the women were randomly divided into 4 groups, treated from the 22nd to the 25th wk of pregnancy until full term with either ferrous sulfate containing 60 mg elemental Fe twice daily, 5 mg folic acid twice daily, a combination of both, or a placebo only. At full term, Hb concentration fell in the groups given placebo or folic acid. In the groups given Fe alone or Fe plus folic acid there was an increase in Hb of 0.4 and 0.7 g/dl, respectively (intergroup difference not statistically significant). Serum Fe and blood folate levels fell in the groups not receiving the appropriate hematinic. Despite deficient serum and red cell folate levels in 30 and 40%, respectively, of the group on Fe alone, the mean Hb concentration incrased at full term and none of the women had a Hb concentration lower than 10 g/dl. Blood folate levels were lower in the Fe supplemented group than in the placebo groups, indicating that Fe deficiency did not aggravate the folate nutritional status. [Anemia of pregnancy is common in Burma.].