[Efficacy and tolerance of a dietary iron supplement (Bio-fer) in pregnancy anemia].

Fifty pregnant women with a hemoglobin between > 10 and < or = 12 g/100 ml during the second three months of pregnancy participated in a non-comparative clinical trial intended to evaluate, during a one month treatment period, the acceptability and effectiveness of an iron supplement (Bio-fer), combined with a high iron diet. Gastric discomfort regressed (present in 11 and 3 women before and after treatment) (p < 0.05), the same applying to constipation (p < 0.05) (present in 17 and 8 women before and after treatment). Reasons for abandoning treatment were nausea (n = 2) and vertigo (n = 1). Anemia or deficiency, evaluated on the basis of hemoglobin and iron-binding capacity levels, improved or stabilised in 34 patients out of 47 (72.3%). Hemoglobin increased (p < 0.0001) on average from 11.4 +/- 0.6 to 11.7 +/- 0.8 g/100 ml.