Iron supplementation during pregnancy. Effect on iron status markers, serum erythropoietin and human placental lactogen. A placebo controlled study in 207 Danish women.

The effect of iron supplementation, 66 mg elemental iron daily, from the 16th week of gestation to delivery, on iron status markers during uncomplicated pregnancies was assessed in a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled study of 207 healthy women (100 iron treated, 107 placebo treated) and their newborn babies. Haemoglobin (Hb) and serum (S-) human placental lactogen (HPL) were measured in all 207 females, while transferrin saturation, S-ferritin and S-erythropoietin (EPO) were measured in 120 females at monthly intervals. Hb: from 27th week of gestation to eight weeks post partum, the placebo treated group had significantly lower Hb levels than the iron treated group (p less than 0.001). Iron status markers: in the placebo group (n = 57), 92% developed exhausted iron stores (i.e. S-ferritin less than or equal to 20 micrograms/l), 65% latent iron deficiency (i.e. S-ferritin less than or equal to 20 micrograms/l and transferrin saturation less than 15%), and 18% iron deficiency anaemia (i.e. S-ferritin less than or equal to 20 micrograms/l, transferrin saturation less than 15% and Hb less than 110 g/l). In the iron treated group (n = 63), 54% developed exhausted iron stores, 6% latent iron deficiency, and none iron deficiency anaemia. S-EPO: the placebo group had significantly higher values than the iron treated group from the 27th week of gestation to one week post partum (p less than 0.01). S-HPL: levels were identical in placebo and iron treated females. Babies of iron treated mothers had higher S-ferritin than babies of placebo treated mothers (p less than 0.02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)