Iron Supplementation During Pregnancy: Bigger Babies and No Increased Malaria

In malaria-endemic rural Kenya, supplemental iron resulted in increased birth weight and did not heighten mothers' risk for falciparum malaria.

Supplemental iron during pregnancy can increase maternal hemoglobin concentrations and reduce maternal anemia at term, but will it also increase rates of maternal malaria, similar to the reported effect in young children?

To assess the effect of antenatal iron supplementation on maternal malaria and neonatal outcomes, investigators conducted a trial in malaria-endemic rural Kenya. A total of 470 pregnant women (13–23 weeks' gestation) with baseline hemoglobin concentrations ≥9 g/dL were randomized to receive iron (ferrous fumarate 60 mg) or placebo, administered daily under observation and continued through 1 month postpartum. All women also received iron-fortified flour (~5.7 mg iron daily). Intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) with sulf…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Iron Supplementation During Pregnancy: Bigger Babies and No Increased Malaria

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Reviewing Author