Friday, April 23, 2010

RESEARCH NEWS: Iron Supplementation May Positively Impact Pregnancy Outcomes in Anemic Pregnant Women

In a study published in the journal Nutrition, researchers found that iron supplementation in anemic pregnant women may reduce the risk of preterm birth.

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Iron Supplementation May Positively Impact Pregnancy Outcomes in Anemic Pregnant Women

"Iron deficiency anemia: Pregnancy outcomes with or without iron supplementation," Banhidy F, Czeizel AE, et al, Nutrition, 2010 Apr 7; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, School of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary).

Summary: In a population-based, case-control study involving 22,843 pregnant women who had malformed fetuses/newborns (cases) and 38,151 pregnant women who had healthy babies (controls), results indicate that anemic pregnant women receiving iron supplementation may reduce the risk of preterm birth. Approximately 14% of cases and 17% of controls had anemia. Anemic pregnant women who did not receive iron supplementation had significantly shorter gestational age at delivery and higher rate of preterm delivery, compared with anemic pregnant women who received iron supplementation. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "A higher rate of preterm birth was found in anemic pregnant women without iron treatment but this adverse birth outcome was prevented with iron supplementation."

SOURCE: VitaSearch, "Iron deficiency anemia: Pregnancy outcomes with or without iron supplementation," Banhidy F, Czeizel AE, et al, Nutrition, 2010 Apr 7; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, School of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary).

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