Iron supplementation in non-anaemic women did not improve pregnancy outcomes and may be harmful to both mother and baby
STUDY DESIGN
Design:
randomised placebo-controlled trial.
Allocation:
unclear.*
Blinding:
blinded (patients and healthcare providers).*
STUDY QUESTION
Setting:
6 prenatal clinics in Iran.
Patients:
750 non-smoking women 17–35 years of age (mean age 26 y) with a singleton pregnancy in the early second trimester (mean 13 wks), haemoglobin concentration ≥13.2 (mean 14.0) g/dl, body mass index 19.8–26 kg/m2, no history of threatened abortion in the current pregnancy, and no disease related to polycythaemia such as asthma or chronic hypertension.
Intervention:
ferrous sulphate, 150 mg (50 mg of elemental iron) (n = 375), or placebo (n = 375) once daily throughout pregnancy. All women received folic acid, 1 mg/day, but were not allowed to take other vitamin or mineral supplements.
Outcomes:
small for gestational age (SGA, <10th percentile) infant, hypertensive …
