Evidence-Based Medicine
2008;13:15; doi:10.1136/ebm.13.1.15
Copyright (c) 2008 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
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THERAPEUTICS

Iron supplementation in non-anaemic women did not improve pregnancy
outcomes and may be harmful to both mother and baby

S Ziaei

Dr S Ziaei, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran;
ziaei_99@yahoo.com

   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
disorder, premature labour, caesarean delivery for obstetrical
reasons, Apgar score, birthweight, and perinatal mortality.

Follow-up period:
6 weeks after delivery.

Patient follow-up:
97% (intention-to-treat analysis). . . . [Full text of this article]

Claudio Giorlandino

Pietro Cignini

Artemisia Prenatal Diagnosis Centre, Rome, Italy

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